2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Carrot production is constrained by heat and salt stress during seed germination and seedling growth in many global regions. Few studies have been published evaluating the effect of heat and salt stress on carrot seed germination and the effect of salt stress on seedling growth. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the response of diverse carrot germplasm to heat and salt stress, identify tolerant germplasm that may be used by plant breeders, and define the appropriate stress levels for assessing tolerance in germination carrot seed. This study coincides with evaluations of abiotic stress tolerance in field trials in Pakistan and Bangladesh at varying stages of growth. The data from these studies, combined with genomic and transcriptomic evaluations, has helped to elucidate the genetic control of abiotic stress tolerance in carrot.