Effect of Saline Water on Seed Germination Indices of Salvia Hispanica L., Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba L., Luffa Cylindrical L., and Momordica Charantia L. (Chia, Guar, Luffa, and Karela)

Abstract

The availability of saline water resources in Khuzestan province is caused by the implementation of haloculture projects. So, the study on the effects of salinity on seed generation was the main aim of current research. Because of the importance of nutrition, medical and industrial of Chia, Guar, Luffa and Karela, in this study, the effect of saline water on germination percentage, the velocity of germination, seed vigor index, germination uniformity, salinity tolerance index, dry weight, fresh weight and the percentage of moisture of the radical and plumule were determined under salinity stress. To achieve the goals of the current study, four salinity levels including Karoon River water and diluted drain water with an electrical conductivity of 5, 10, 15, 20 dS/m (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 respectively) as the main factor in three replications (R1, R2, and R3). The results of the analysis of variance of measured indices in the experiment showed that the effects of salinity on germination percentage of Guar and Luffa at 1% and Karela and Chia at 5% level of probability were significantly affected by salinity stress. The effect of salinity on the velocity of germination of the studied species was significant. Also, the salinity effect on seed vigor index of Guar and Chia were significant at 1% level. Increasing salinity significantly decreased the seed vigor index in the mentioned species. According to the results of this study, Chia and Guar were identified as the most tolerant plant to salinity stress in the seedling stage.