ABSTRACT. Soil salinization is a worldwide environmental problem with severe economic and social consequences. The accumulation of salts in soil is harmful to plants because it increases the concentration of soil solution, inhibits seed germination and plant root system morphogenesis, disturbs root absorption and, owing to the toxic effects of excess ions, is stored up in plants. The capitalization of salt tolerance variability in local landraces should be the first step in plant breeding for the improvement of salt tolerance. Four local landraces of Phaseolus vulgaris were tested for resistance to salt stress. It has been found that they react to excess salts according to the Munns biphasic model. The highest resistance to salinity was given by the local landrace Botosani 1. pp. 7–11

Keywords: soil salinization; salt stress; consumption; food security; local landraces; Phaseolus vulgaris