Effect of salinity on photosynthesis and biochemical characteristics in mulberry genotypes

Mulberry genotypes were subjected to salinity (0-12 mS cm(-1)) in pot cultu re experiment. Chlorophyll and total carotenoid contents were reduced consi derably by salinity. At low salinity, photosynthetic CO2 uptake increased o ver the control, but it decreased at higher salinity. Contents of soluble p roteins, free amino acids, soluble sugars, sucrose, starch, and phenols inc reased at salinity of 1-2 mS cm(-1) and decreased at higher salinity (8-12 mS cm(-1)). Glycine betaine accumulated more than proline, the maximum accu mulation of both was at salinity of 2-4 mS cm(-1). Among the genotypes stud ied, BC2-59 followed by S-30 showed better salinity tolerance than M-5.