Abstract
Salinity is a continuing problem in the arid and semi-arid tracts of the world. It could be alleviated using irrigation management and/or crop management. However, the former approach is outdated and very expensive. Nevertheless, the latter is economical as well as efficient, and it enables to produce salt tolerant crop lines. But prior to that there is a need to confirm the presence of genetic based variation for salt tolerance among different species or varieties of a particular crop that can thrive under unreliable agro-ecological situations; tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc) Trotter] is one of such crops. Thus fifteen lowland tef genotypes (10 accessions and 5 varieties) were tested during germination and seedling stage at 2dS/m, 4dS/m, 8dS/m, 12dS/m and 16dS/m salinity levels. Distilled water (0dS/m) was used as a control. Data analysis was carried out using SAS package. Germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), seedling shoot length (SSL) and seedling root length (SRL) were measured. The analyzed data showed significant variation among most parameters recorded for accessions and varieties (p < 0.01) and for treatments (p < 0.001). Germination rate and seedling root length were more salt affected than final germination percentage and seedling shoot length respectively. The main cause for reduced and delayed germination percentage was osmotic effect. The ion effect was also learned to be minimal. Most accessions and varieties failed to germinate at 12dS/m and 16dS/m salinity levels. Thus, these salt concentrations were not important in screening tef genotypes for salt tolerance. Varieties such as DZ-01-1281, DZ-Cr-358 and accession 236512 were found to be salt sensitive. However, variety DZ-Cr-37 and accessions 237186, 237131 and 212928 were found to be salt tolerant. The rest accessions and varieties were intermediate in their salt tolerance. The study affirmed the presence of broad intraspecific variation among tef accessions and varieties for salt tolerance but more in the former. Key words: Accessions, Germination, NaCl, Salinity, Eragrostis tef.
Highlights
Salt-affected soils are found throughout the world
At 4dS/m, all accessions and varieties attained more than 75% final germination percentage (FGP) except accession 236514 (56%) and variety DZ-01-1281 (32.5%)
The positive significant correlation between seedling shoot length (SSL) and seedling root length (SRL) as well as between germination rate (GR) and shoot-to-root ratio (SRR) indicates that tef genotypes responded to salt stress more or less in a similar manner with respect to these parameters
Summary
Salt-affected soils are found throughout the world. That is why Brandy and Weil (2002)claimed that no continent is free from the problem. Studies by Hailay Tsige et al (2000) indicates that of the entire Abaya State Farm, 30% has already been saltaffected This problem is expected to be severe in the years to come. Tef can be adapted to a broader range of agro-climatic environments It can grow in altitudes ranging from sea level to 2800m.a.s.l, under different moisture, soil, temperature and rainfall regimes. It can tolerate anoxic situations better than maize, wheat and sorghum. The area used for tef production is increasing from time to time (Hailu and Seyfu, 2000) It covered 1,818, 375 (in 2001/02) and 1,989,068 (2003/04) hectares of land which is 28.5 and 28.4 percent of the area covered respectively by the whole cereals in each production year (CSA, 2004). This article attempted to screen 15 genotypes (10 accessions and 5 varieties) of tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)Trotter] in the germination and seedling stage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
