Relationship between Salt (NaCl) Stress and Yield Components in Three Varieties of African Yam Bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa)

Abstract

Salinity has threatened the existence of many useful and multipurpose legumes such as Sphenostylis stenocarpa. To revert this situation effort must be made towards its sustainable use by encouraging domestication of improved varieties that can thrive in salt stress region. This research study was aimed at establishing the effect of salt-stress on seed germination, morphological attributes and yield response of three ­varieties Sphenostylis stenocarpa. Data were collected from the third-weekly for a period of three months (12 weeks) on plant height and number of leaves. At 12 weeks, data were collected on the following traits: number of flowers per plant, number of pods per plant, length of pod and number of seeds per pod. The data on number of seed germinated was also taken. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. Results obtained revealed that sodium chloride (NaCl+) significantly affected some important morphological traits of Sphenostylis stenocarpa evaluated. All varieties treated at various levels (1 kg/l, 2 kg/l and 3 kg/l) with NaCl performed poorly than those without treatment (control). This study revealed that there was no significant difference amongst all varieties of African yam been treated at 1 kg/l levels of NaCl. There was no significant different (p<0.05) among varieties of African yam bean at 0 kg/l in different morphological parameters evaluated. Salt stress significantly reduced (p<0.05) the germination of African yam bean.