Abstract
Twenty three rice ( Oryza sativa L. ) varieties cultivated in Jaffna district of Sri Lanka were screened for salt tolerance at the germination and early seedling stage using different salinity levels (0, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 45 dSm -1 ). Cluster analysis was done for germination energy, speed of germination, final germination percentage, root length, root dry weight, plumule length and plumule dry weight. All the tested variables, except sodium concentration in grains, decreased with increased salt levels and had significant differences (p -1 . The osmotic effect and toxic effect due to sodium, in combination, played a major role in germination of seeds and early seedling growth due to inhibitory effect in absorption of water. Among the cultivated rice varieties in Jaffna, Pachchaperumal, At 362, Bg 250, Bg 352, H4, Bg 304, Bg 360 and CO 10 have higher germination energy, speed of germination, final germination percentage, average root length, plumule length and low sodium concentration in grains and were categorized into high tolerant group. The rice varieties At 353 and Addakari were in the tolerant group. Varieties Morungan, Periavellai, At 308 and Moddaikarupan were grouped under the salt sensitive group whereas varieties At 402 and At 303 were in highly sensitive group to salt at 24 dSm -1 during their germination stage. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 25 (3): 358-375 (2014)
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for people in Sri Lanka
Germination energy, final germination percentage, root length, root dry weight, plumule length and plumule dry weights were decreased with increase in salt concentration
Among the rice varieties cultivated in Jaffna, Pachchaperumal, At 362, Bg 250, Bg 352, H4, Bg 304, Bg 360 and CO 10 were highly tolerant to salt by having higher germination energy, speed of germination, final germination percentage, average root length and average plumule length
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for people in Sri Lanka. The annual population growth in Sri Lanka was reported to be at 1.04 % in 2011 (World Bank Report, 2012). Abiotic stresses are the major threat to crop production worldwide, reducing average yields of major crops by more than 50 % (Boyer, 1982). Soil salinity defined as the presences of excess amounts of salts in the soil solution in agricultural lands and it is one of the major obstacles in increasing production in rice growing areas worldwide, which is the ever-present threat to improve crop yield. Development of salt tolerant varieties is considered as one of the major strategies to increase rice production in saline prone coastal areas
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