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Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Kuwait

ABSTRACT

Seed germination and seedling growth characteristics were studied using three cultivars of rai-sarson grown in seawater dilutions. The dilutions employed were: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100% besides control (0%) in which tap water was used. Under lower salinity levels, the three cultivars performed more or less identically for all the characteristics investigated. Higher salinities in the culture solution reduced the initial rates of emergence and subsequent percentage of seed germination. All the seedling growth characteristics studied showed significant decrease at higher salinities. An inverse relationship was noted between salinity and both seed germination and seedling growth characteristics. Results obtained suggest that the threshold level of salinity is around 50% (approximately 20,000 ppm). The findings may be considered promising in cultivating rai-sarson using seawater dilutions or brackish water which is available at a few locations in Kuwait