Effect of Sodium Chloride on Germination and Seedling Growth of Grasspea Cultivars (Lathyrus sativus)

Soil and water salinity reduce plant growth and many agricultural products. Grasspea is annual crop and related to fabaceae genus. Grasspea is high adaptable plant to unfavorable environmental factors. It is cultivated in semi tropical zones. Effects of different salinity concentrations on seed germination percent, proline concentration, MDA, germination index, root and shoot length and weight of four grasspea cultivars include Ardabil, Sharekord, Mashhad and Zanjan, were studied. The experimental design was a factorial in basis of completely randomized design with three replications. Different salinity concentrations at four levels include 0, 6, 12 and 18 ds/m were applied. Result showed that salinity had significant effects on seed germination percentage and germination index. The most and least of germination percentage were observed in 6 and 18 ds/m respectively. Salinity had significantly effect on root and shoot length, dry and fresh weight, proline concentration and MDA of seedlings. Increasing salinity reduced root and shoot length, dry and fresh weight of seedlings and enhanced proline and MDA in them. Sharkord cultivar had the most germination percentage at 18 ds/m sodium chloride. Sharkord and Ardabil cultivars were the most resistant and sensitive cultivars respectively.