Effects of Salinity Stress on Emergence and Seedling Growth Parameters of Some Maize Genotypes (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Maize is a very important cereal all over the world and generally cultivated in irrigated agricultural areas. Salinity affects adversely maize productivity in these areas. Maize is known as a salt sensitive species. The salt tolerance level identification in the large genetic resources and breeding populations is an important research topic for solving the salinity problem. The effects of NaCl stress on germination and seedling growth of fifteen maize genotypes were investigated in this study. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of the NaCl were settled 0 (distilled water), 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 dS m-1. This investigation was performed as factorial arrangement of completely randomized design with four replications. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that genotypes, salinity levels and interaction between genotype x salinity were significant for all the investigated treatments emergence index (EI), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), and salt tolerance indexes (STI). Results also revealed that the highest reduction in emergence index (59.7%) were obtained in the highest level (12 dS m-1) of salinity. The results further revealed that the cultivars named DKC 6589, PR31G98, and PR31A34 were the most tolerant genotypes than the others under NaCI stress.