Screening of sweet clover (Melilotus adans.) species diversity for resistance to chloride salinization

Saline soils are widespread in the world, including in CIS countries. Species of sweet clover (genus Melilotus Adans.) which are valuable fodder plants, e.g. at insufficient moisture on chestnut saline soils, are also among the best phytomeliorants in the legume family. However, during early stages of growing the sweet clover has poor salinity tolerance. Here, we modified earlier developed test and screened accessions of the VIR World Collection (Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources) for resistance to chloride salinity, and for the first time identified among them the forms with high salinity resistance. In the research we used a laboratory method of assessing salt tolerance. Samples of white and yellow sweet clover were grown under controlled conditions, in water culture, according to the following scheme: control (without salinity); salinity of 3 atm. NaCl; the salinity of 5 atm. NaCl. The length of root and sprout of seedlings were measured after 5-day exposure to the stressor...