Abstract

                                The present investigation to evaluate the impact of melatonin onphysiological, biochemical characters and yield potential of cassava undersalt stress condition. The present study was carried out in cassava varietySree Athulya with nine treatments under 120mM NaCl salt stress condition.Different treatments viz., sett treatment and foliar application of 100 ppmmelatonin was done at 30 and 60 DAP of the crop growth. Control (saltstress + no melatonin) and absolute control (no stress and melatonin) alsomaintained for comparison purpose. The salt stress of 120 mM NaCl wasimposed from day one to120 days. Observations done on 45, 75 and 135days after planting revealed that foliar spray of 100 ppm melatonin at 30days after planting recorded percent increase of 33.56 in photosyntheticrate, 37.28 in stomatal conductance, 13.60 in transpiration rate and setttreatment plus foliar spray at 30 and 60 days after planting showed maximumosmotic adjustment, osmotic potential, proline (16.54 %) and soluble proteincontent (10.32 %). The melatonin treated plants are efficient in producinghigher yield than untreated one under salt stress.

Key words : Cassava, melatonin, salt stress