​Early Identification of Salt-tolerant Genotypes in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.) at Germination stage by Observing the Morphological Characters

Abstract

Background: The major abiotic stress limiting the plant growth and productivity across the globe is salinity. This may be overwhelmed by growing salt tolerant varieties. Hence, the present study has been figured out to sort out the salt tolerant and salt sensitive cultivars of finger millet. Methods: In this study 15 cultivars of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) seeds were grown at different NaCl concentrations (50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM and 200 mM) on germination stage. Germination percentage, root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight and vigour index of the seedlings were measured using different concentrations of NaCl. Result: Salt tolerant cultivars were discovered to be GPU 28, GPU 67, ML 365, Udurumallige, PYR1 and GPU 48 at 150 Mm and ML 365 at 200 Mm salt accumulation, while cultivars such as VL 400 and KM252 were very much sensitive to NaCl. Accessions with tolerance to salinity are precious genetic material for future crop improvement program.