Salinity Stress in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Seed Germination

Abstract

In this study, the effect of five different levels of salt (NaCl) on the germination of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seed was investigated. Laboratory experiment with completely randomized design comprising three replicates in Petri dishes was conducted at Gaziantep University Vocational School of Higher Education in Nurdagi to determine the salt effects on common bean germination. The germination of the cultivar (Tegmen) was studied using distilled water (control) and under osmotic potential of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 MPa NaCl. The results indicated that the Mean germination time (MGT), Germination index (GI), Coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), Germination percentage (GP), and Seed vigor index (SVI) varied between 3.13 and 3.78 days, 6.88 and 3.93, 0.156 and 0.153, 90 and 60%, and 867.0 and 290.3, respectively. Significant differences were found among NaCl treatments in terms of GI, GP, and SVI. All the examined parameters were decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, except MGT. The max and min GI, GP, CVG, and SVI were observed at the control condition (0.0 MPa) and highest osmotic potential (1.5 MPa) of NaCl, respectively. Correlation coefficient between all possible combinations was estimated and the results indicated that MGT, GI, GP, CVG, and SVI had significant positive or negative correlation with each other.