Biochemical and Molecular Genetic Markers Associated with Salinity tolerance in Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

Flax is considering one of the most important oil crops where its seeds contribute to bridging the gap in the production of healthy oils such as hot oil. Further, it is considered an important source for manufacturing of textiles and fabrics besides, the manufacture of particleboard, banknote and other strategic industries. This investigation was launched with great effectiveness in view of the high level of soil salinity in lands prepared for cultivating of flax and its dangerous effect on all stages of its germination and final yield.Also, the present investigation was conducted to know the genetic behavior associated with salt-stress tolerance in some flax cultivarswith various responseto salt stress.Yield and its components and some physiological traits related to salinity tolerance were the most measurementsevaluated under control experiment and both salinity treatments.Molecular genetic markers were used to identify the molecular genetic differences among the five flax cultivars. As well as, identifying the impact of salinity-stress on water soluble protein and enzymes important for all biological and biochemical processes such as peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) isozymes in flax cultivars. Results confirmed that the three flax cultivars; Giza 5, 6 and 7 exhibited highly rank of salinity tolerance for all studied traits under both salinity levels compared to the standard experiment.Further, the first salinitylevel was the safestlimit that plants can tolerate with a slight loss in the final yield.Profile of ISSR analysis succeed in comparing among the previous flax cultivars through generating a total of 11 polymorphic bands with 37.93% polymorphism. Also, results of biochemical studies proved that the salt stress had a clear effect on protein and both types of isozymes in all flax cultivars under study, especially the second level of salting.