Effect of sodium chloride on seed germination and early seedling growth of Beta vulgaris L.

Seed germination is usually the most critical stage in seedling establishment, determining successful crop production. Beta vulgaris L., belonging to Chenopodiaceae family, has ancestors of halophytes. Salinity stress at germination stage is a reliable test for evaluating of tolerance in many species. Hence; this experiment was carried out to evaluate salinity tolerance of Beta vulgaris L. grown at ۵ salinity levels (۰, ۱۰۰, ۱۵۰, ۲۰۰ and ۲۵۰mM of NaCl). Experiment was conducted at completely randomized design with ۴ replications. The seeds were sterilized in sodium hypochlorite ۱۰ % (w/v) for ۱۰ min and rinsed several times (۵-۶) with sterilized deionized water. The number of germinated seeds was counted daily for ten days. Germination rate and percentage, length and fresh weight of plumule and radicle and seedling vigor index were examined. Analysis of variance was performed using ANOVA and mean comparisons were performed using Duncan test at ۵% probability level using SPSS software version ۱۶. Sodium chloride induces stress by reducing plant growth due to changes in internal processes in the plant. As concentration of NaCl decreased, the rate and percentage of germination, length and fresh weight of radicle & plumule fresh weight and seedling vigour index increased. Some researchers believe that salinity stress affects seed germination by increasing osmotic pressure and decreasing water uptake by seeds, as well as by the toxic effects of sodium and chlorine ions

کلیدواژه ها:

salinity ، seedling ، radicle length