Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF SALINITY STRESS ON GERMINATION INDICES IN SIX RAPESEED CULTIVARS

Vahid Jajarmi

Abstract

In order to study the effects of salinity stress on germination indices in Rapeseed (Canola) cultivars, an experiment was conducted in factorial form, using a completely randomized design with three replications. In this experiment, six Rapeseed cultivars (Okp ¡Colvert, Orient¡ SLm ¡ Fornax ¡ Cobra) were evaluated in four levels of salinity treatment (0 or distilled water,-3,-6,-9bar) of NaCl. Results indicated in all traits, a significant decrease was observed with increasing salinity stress levels. Radical length decreased especially in -3 bars and above. In higher levels of stress (-6,-9 bars) plumule length decreased, and this reduction was more than what was observed in Radical length. Reduction of water potential has reduced germination velocity and percentage, but it has had more influence on germination percentage than on germination velocity. Colvert variety had the longest length of Radical and plumule. Okp had the highest velocity of germination. Among the studied genotypes, Okp and Colvert showed the most and the least tolerance to germination in salinity condition.