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INTER-CULTIVAR VARIATION FOR SALT TOLERANCE IN PROSO MILLET (PANICUM MILIACEUM L.) AT THE GERMINATION STAGE

PAKEEZA SABIR* AND MUHAMMAD ASHRAF

Abstract: Inter-cultivar variation for salt tolerance in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) was assessed by screening 18 diverse accessions originally collected from different areas of Pakistan with varying environmental conditions. The set of accessions examined in this study showed considerable variation in germination percentage and seedling weights under salt stress. Accessions 008208, 008210, 008215 and 008230 had higher germination percentage at higher levels of salt, whereas 008214, 008216 and 008222 had lower germination percentage as compared to the other accessions. In seedling weights, accessions 008216, 008218 and 008225 showed a maximum reduction at higher levels of salt, whereas accessions 008208, 008210, 008215 and 008223 showed less reduction. Of the 18 accessions, 008211 and 008215 showed high tolerance in terms of both germination percentage and seedling weights, but it is not sure whether they would maintain the degree of their tolerance if tested at the later growth stages.

Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan