Effect of Salinity on Cotton Seed Germination and Seedling Survival

Abstract

Salinity is a major threat in Pakistan due to use of low quality water. Present study was conducted   to evaluate MNH-886 at different salinity levels by using 3 different experiment. In first experiment seed of MNH-886 was grown in Petri dishes and data of germination was taken by applying 23 NaCl treatments from 0-1300 mM. Results showed that germination is get hampered by high salt concentration. Even at the concentration of 100 mM it lowered to 80% and become zero at 700 mM NaCl solution. In second and third experiment seedling survival was tested  in MS media and hydroponic. From both of these experiment it was found that survival rate decrease greatly with increase in salt concentration. On the basis of hydroponic results it is assumed that MNH-886 is not good performer under salinity stress

Keywords: MNH-886, Germination, survival, hydroponic media