Study of the plantain banana plants (Musa paradisiaca L.) adaptation to soil salinity: synthesis of the biochemical compounds, total soluble sugars, proline, glycine betaine and foliar pigments

Plantain bananas are consumed food in tropical countries. In Côte d'Ivoire, yields remain very low in coastal strip due to soil salinity. This study was conducted to evaluate acclimatization of banana plants to salinity through synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars, proline, and glycine betaine. Plants aged 30 and 60 days were treated with 5, 10 and 15 g/L of NaCl. Results showed that synthesis of photosynthetic pigments increased with plant age. With 5 g/L of NaCl, chlorophyll b content was 0.44 (30-day-old plants) and 1.06 µg/gFW (60-day-old plants). It remained elevated in 30-day control plants (0.63 µg/g WF). At 10 g/L of NaCl, chlorophyll a and carotenoids reached values of 1.51 and 2.78 µg/gFW and 0.78 and 0.97 µg/gFW, respectively, in 30- and 60-day plants. Total soluble sugars and proline were more abundant in leaves. Sugars showed high values at 10 g/L of NaCl (17.68 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW in 30-day plants and 21.76 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW in 60-day plants), and proline at 15 g/L of NaCl (10.29 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW in 30-day plants and 8 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW in 60-day plants). Glycine betaine was elevated in both leaves and roots. At 5 g/L of NaCl, values were high in 30-day leaves (11.82 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW) and 60-day roots (10.89 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW). At 15 g/L of NaCl, values in 30-day roots and 60-day leaves were 13.92 × 10^⁻² and 12.81 × 10^⁻² µg/gFW, respectively. In conclusion, banana plant achieves acclimatization through synthesis of biochemical compounds