Effect of Saline Water on Seed Germination Indices of Salvia Hispanica L., Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba L., Luffa Cylindrical L., and Momordica Charantia L. (Chia, Guar, Luffa, and Karela)

The salinity of water and soil resources and lack of appropriate quality water resources are major threats to agricultural development in arid and semiarid regions such as Iran, Khouzestan province. The implementation of haloculture projects causes the availability of saline water resources in these areas. Therefore, the study on the effects of salinity on seed generation was the essential aim of current research. In this study, because of the importance of nutrition, medical and industrial of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.), Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), Luffa (Luffa cylindrical L.), and Karela (Momordica charantia L.), the effect of saline water on seed germination indices were evaluated. The seed germination indices consisted of germination percentage (Gp%), the coefficient of the velocity of germination (Gi), seed vigor index (Vi), germination uniformity (GU), salinity tolerance index (STI), dry weight, fresh weight, and the percentage of moisture of the radical and plumule were determined under salinity stress. To achieve the aims of the current study, four salinity levels were used, including Karoon River water (as a control treatment) with an average electrical conductivity of 1.21 dS /m and diluted drain water with an electrical conductivity of 5, 10, 15, 20 dS/m (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, respectively) in three replications (R1, R2, and R3). The experimental design was completely random. The analysis of variance of measured indices in the experiment showed that the effects of salinity on germination percentage of Guar and Luffa at 1% and Karela and Chia at 5% level of probability were significantly affected by salinity stress. The effect of salinity on the velocity of germination of the studied species was significant. Also, the salinity effect on the seed vigor index of Guar and Chia was significant at the 1% level. Increasing salinity significantly decreased the seed vigor index in the mentioned species. According to the results of this study, among four seeds, Chia and Guar were identified as the most tolerant plant to salinity stress in the seedling stage.