Search

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is widely used in many cooking techniques worldwide, and it is known as the ''queen of oilseeds'' because it contains polyunsaturated lipids that prevent oxidative rancidity and carry oil content up to 60%. The salty portions of the country have much lower agricultural yields, cropping intensities, and productivity than the rest of the country. In this paper, we compared the variations of yield performance and salinity torelance between modern and local sesame varieties to select the best-performing varieties under saline conditions in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. The field experiment had been performed during the Kharif-1 season (mid-March to mid-July) of 2022 ​at the BINA (Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture) substation farm, Satkhira. Four BINA varieties and two BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute) varieties developed sesame varieties, and one local variety, viz. Binatil-1, Binatil-2, Binatil-3, Binatil-4, BARI Til-3, BARI Til-4 and Lal Til (Batiaghata local) were tested under saline conditions. A randomized complete block design was utilized, with three replications of each variety across the experimental field. The greatest plant height (92.00 ​cm) was found in BARI Til-3, whereas the lowest was observed in Binatil-3. BARI Til-4 had the highest number of branches per plant (4.55), whereas the lowest was found in Binatil-1. The highest number of capsules (22.22) was shown in Binatil-3, and the lowest was found in Binatil-1. The maximum number of seeds in capsule-1 (72.55) was demonstrated by Lal Til, and the minimum was observed in BARI Til-4. The Lal Til variety presented the highest seed yield (1.25 ​ha-1), whereas the Binatil-1 variety presented the lowest seed yield. These results indicate that the Lal Til variety performed better in yield. It may be cultivated in the Satkhira region under saline circumstances and used as breeding material for future breeding programs. These findings are highly important for the future of sesame cultivation in Bangladesh and other saline-prone areas.

The extent of drought tolerance in the seedlings of three wheat cultivars (WMRI-1, BARI GOM-33 and BARI GOM-21) was investigated by seed and root priming using abscisic acid (ABA) and glycine betaine (GB). The seeds were primed with ABA (10 and 20 μM) and GB (50 and 100 mM) and grown in pots maintaining control (0 % PEG) and drought (10 % PEG) conditions. Under drought, the root and shoot length, root and shoot biomass were significantly increased in ABA and GB primed seedlings than non-primed seedlings in all cultivars. Among the priming agents, either 20 μM ABA or 50 mM GB triggered better seedling growth in all wheat cultivars. These two levels were then applied with the nutrient solution in the hydroponics following four treatments: Control, Drought, Drought + ABA and Drought + GB. The seedling growth significantly declined in drought, while an improved seedling growth was observed in ABA and GB-treated plants in all cultivars. A considerable increase in lipid peroxidation, proline content, total antioxidant capacity and total flavonoid content in roots and leaves were recorded in all drought conditions, while these values were considerably reduced in ABA and GB treatments. Hierarchical clustering heatmap using stress tolerance index (STI) values showed that Drought + ABA and Drought + GB secured higher STI scores suggesting a greater degree of drought tolerance in all cultivars. In conclusion, seed and root priming of ABA and GB enhanced drought tolerance in the wheat seedlings by improving seedling growth and antioxidative defense suggesting a declined state of oxidative damage.