AGRICULTURAL BIO-SALINE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN KUWAIT

          Agricultural production in Kuwait is constrained by harsh weather, scarce rainfall, saline irrigation water, rapid depletion of groundwater resources, and low soil fertility. Under these constraints, most vegetable production is in protected environment. The use of brackish groundwater (total dissolved salt concentration ranging from 3 to 8 g/l) has led to salinization of soils, which were once suitable for crop production. To overcome salinity problems, desalinated water is being used for irrigation at a very high cost. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KIRS) developed a conceptual and strategic framework for Bio-saline research program in the 1980's aiming at developing technologies and plant varieties that will sustain agricultural productivity. Within the overall objectives of this program, the development of salt-tolerant crops by applying conventional breeding techniques and the latest biotechnological approaches of tissue culture and recombinant DNA. Using conventional breeding and modern tissue culture technologies, salt-tolerant germplasm from three important vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants) were selected. Large-scale screening of crop plants for salt-tolerance is a long-terms activity at KISR. Currently, cultivars of potato, and varieties of alfalfa are being screened using the saltbox technology in greenhouses which will be followed by grow-out tests. In another approach, the recombinant DNA techniques were used to identify and isolate salt tolerant genes from mangrove plants. Efforts are currently underway to utilise the selected genes to breed varieties with improved salinity-tolerance and productivity in economically important vegetable crops and fodder. Results of the Bio-saline research program will, in turn, lead to significant savings of fresh water and promote brackish water-based agriculture development in Kuwait.

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