To assess the tolerance of 50 cowpea genotypes under salinity, experiments were conducted in greenhouse covered with fiberglass sheets. The salinity treatments applied in terms of electrical conductivity of saturation extract of soil (EC) were EC1 - 0.3; EC2 - 3.0; EC3 - 6.0; EC4 - 9.0 and EC5 - 12.0 dS m-1. The genotypes were classified for the salinity tolerance on the basis of the reduction in dry weight (%) of shoot. Under EC2, 36 genotypes were tolerant (T), 12 moderately tolerant (MT) and 2 moderately susceptible (MS); under EC3, 3 were T, 14 MT, 30 MS and 3 susceptible (S); under EC4, one was MS and 49 S and under EC5, all were S. The protein content of seed was influenced by salinity and varied with the genotype.
Vigna unguiculata; salinity stress; protein
