Abstract
We examined indices of waterlogging tolerance in lettuce and broccoli, which will be helpful in selecting and breeding cultivars with a high waterlogging tolerance. After 5 days waterlogging of lettuce and broccoli cultivars, differences in the rate of decrease in the root dry weight were observed, indicating the existence of varietal differences in waterlogging tolerance. In the experiments over 5 days waterlogging of lettuce cultivars, the rate of decrease in the root dry weight showed significant negative correlations with the acetaldehyde-producing ability 1 hour after roots were anaerobically treated with nitrogen gas, and with the ethanol-producing ability at 1 and 15 hours after roots were anaerobically treated with nitrogen gas, in vitro. Thus, these measured values can be used as indices of waterlogging tolerance in lettuce. In contrast, after waterlogging, broccoli showed no correlations between the degree of decrease in the root dry weight and the measured values of the acetaldehyde- or ethanol-producing ability.
