EFFECT OF SALT STRESS (NaCl) ON MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF ONION (Allium cepa L.) SEEDLINGS (original) (raw)

Salinity is one of the major environmental factor, which affects on plant growth and development of crops worldwide, the present research is performed with four onion cultivars. Which include Agrifound dark red (AFDR), Agrifound white (AFW), LINE-28 and Krishnapuram (KP) were collected from NHRDF (National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation) Kurnool and from farmers. Selected seeds were surface sterilized with 2 % sodium hypochlorite, then placed on petriplates maintaining four levels of salinity (50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM and 200 mM) with control. After ten days of salinity treatment seedlings of morphological traits were recorded by considering their germination percentage (GP) and germination race (GR) and seed vigor (SV) is calculated with the length of plumule (PL) and radicle (RL). Results showed that decreasing parameters were observed with increasing the levels of salinity. Among the salinity levels highest GP, GR & SV were observed in 50 mM and lowest in 200 mM concentration against control. Agrifound white is the tolerant one and LINE - 28 is susceptible to salt stress. Results may be useful in near future to know the morphological, phenotypical and ecological aspects of salt stress on plants and ultimately know the plant growth and development in salty areas.