Interaction of Temperature and Salinity on Sugar Beet Germination1

Abstract

AbstractBecause high temperatures and soil salinity adversely affect sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) germination in the southwestern United States, the interaction of temperature and salinity on germination was studied by a modification of the standard blotter technique. The interaction was highly significant. Salinity had little effect on germination at 10 C and 15 C but was increasingly inhibitory as temperature increased from 25 C to 40 C. Germination was maximum at 25 C, with low salinity, and almost completely inhibited at 45 C with all salinity levels. Of the four varieties studied, ‘US‐H2,’ ‘US‐H6,’ ‘US‐H8,’ and ‘HH‐5,’ germination of the US‐H2 variety was most sensitive to salinity over the 30‐C to 40‐C range.