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Pak. J. Bot., 39(6): 1937-1944, 2007. |
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Updated: 23-09-10 |
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VARIATION IN SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH IN SOME DIVERSE LINES OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.) UNDER SALT STRESS EJAZ HUSSAIN SIDDIQI*, MUHAMMAD ASHRAF AND NUDRAT AISHA AKRAM Abstract:To assess inter-cultivar variation for salt tolerance in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), 10 available lines [Safflower-31, Safflower-32, Safflower-33, Safflower-34, Safflower-35, Safflower-36, Safflower-37, Safflower-38, Safflower-39 and Safflower-78] were screened at five levels (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 mM) of NaCl at the germination and seedling stages. Salt stress caused a marked reduction in germination percentage and fresh and dry biomass of the seedlings of all 10 accessions of safflower. Maximum reduction was observed at higher levels (180 and 240 mM) of NaCl. Accessions Safflower-31 and Safflower-35 had higher germination percentage and seedling shoot dry weight than the other lines particularly at 180 and 240 mM of NaCl, but in contrast, Safflower-32, Safflower-33, Safflower-37, Safflower-38, and Safflower-78 were the lowest in germination percentage and shoot dry weight. Although a considerable magnitude of variation for salt tolerance was observed in a set of 10 available lines of safflower at the germination and seedling stages, it is not certain whether such variation exists at the later stages of growth. This needs to be further investigated. Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. |
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