Response of some canola cultivars (Brassica napus L.) to salinity stress and its effect on germination and seedling properties.

Abstract

A laboratorial experiment was carried out at Bani-Sueif Seed Testing Laboratory during the period of October and November 2011 to investigate the effect of NaCl priming on seed germination and seedling growth of some canola cultivars i.e. Serw 4, Serw 10, Pactol and Line 51-El Serw. Canola seeds were primed with 1% NaCl solution for 24 hours, at 20°C. Then primed and non-primed seeds were irrigated with seven different saline solutions consisted of 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50% concentrations of NaCl. Results showed a significant effect of studied canola cultivars on means of final germination percentage (FGP %), germination index (GI), seed- ling vigor index (SVI), plumula length (cm), radical length (cm), seedling fresh weight (g), seedling dry weight (g), and seedling height reduction (SHR %). Line 51-El-serw significantly exceeded other studied cultivars in (FGP, GI, SVI, plumula length, radical length and seedling dry weight). While, Serw 4 and Serw 10 cultivars significantly exceeded the other studied cultivars in seedling fresh weight and seedling height reduction %. Results showed a significant effect due to seed priming on averages of FGP, GI, SVI, plumula length, radical length, seedling fresh weight, seedling dry weight, RDW and SHR% comparing with non-seed priming. Increasing salinity concentrations from 0 to 1.75% NaCl significantly decreased all studied characters except SHR was increased with increasing salinity concentrations. It could be concluded that priming line 51-El-serw seed with 1% NaCl and increasing salinity concentration up to 0.75% NaCl maximizing seed germination parameters and seedling characters. It is very important to use line 51-El Serw and pactol cultivar in breeding program for enhancing canola production in saline soil in Egypt.