SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) UNDER SALT STRESSED CONDITIONS

The experiment was conducted during October 2014 to December 2014 to evaluate the effect of different levels of salinity on seed germination and seedling growth of sunflower. The factorial experiment consists of three variety of sunflower such as BRAC HySun 33, BARI sunflower-2, KU SL-1 and five levels of salinity viz. 4, 8, 12, 16 dS m-1 with control. The effect of variety and salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of sunflower were varied significantly. The germination (germination energy, capacity and speed of germination) and seedling growth parameters (root length, shoot length and seedling growth) were significantly affected by salt stress and gradually declined with increasing salinity levels. The variety of BRAC Hysun 33 (V1) showed better performance upto 12 dS m-1 salinity in laboratory condition.

• Supervision