Muhammad Asim Jamil1, Muhammad Zarar Hasan1, and Khubaib Shakoor2,3
1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faislabad, Pakistan; 2National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China; 3MOA Key Laboratory of Tropical Crops Biology and Genetic Resources, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, 571101, Hainan, China
*Corresponding author: zararhassan49@gmail.com
This study investigates the effects of varying salinity levels and temperature stress on the growth and physiological responses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes. Twenty cotton genotypes were subjected to three treatments: control (non-saline), 7 dS/m salinity, and 14 dS/m salinity, under controlled temperature conditions. The study evaluated several physiological parameters, including plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights, relative water content (RWC), and membrane stability index (MSI). The results showed that increased salinity and temperature significantly reduced cotton growth and physiological performance across all genotypes. BS-18 demonstrated the highest tolerance to salt and temperature stress, exhibiting the best performance in terms of plant height, root length, RWC, and MSI, while FH-Lalazar showed the lowest tolerance. As salinity increased, a significant decline was observed in all measured parameters, indicating the negative impact of salinity and temperature on cotton growth. The study highlights the potential of BS-18 as a salt and heat-tolerant variety, contributing valuable insights for improving cotton cultivation under saline and temperature stress conditions.