Effect of salinity (NaCl) on germination and seedling growth of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)

Soil salinity adversely affects crops at the critical stages of growth, which in severe cases causes total yield loss. So screening of salt tolerant genotypes is very important and it can be done during germination and early growth stage by quick and easy method. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity on germination and seedling growth of mungbean genotypes. The experiment comprised two factors viz. genotypes (BARI Mung-6, Binamoog-5, Binamoog-8 and Tila Mung) and salinity levels (0 mM/L, 40 mM/L, 80 mM/L, 120 mM/L and 160 mM/L). Among the seed germination parameters, no significant genotypic difference observed at 0 mM /L and 40 mM/L. At 120 mM/L, the highest germination capacity (93%) and germination percentage (94%) was found in Binamoog-8 followed by BARI Mung-6 (91% and 92% respectively) and the lowest value was in Tila Mung (73% and 76% respectively). At 160 mM/L, BARI Mung-6 showed the highest germination capacity (95%) and germination percentage (95%) and Tila Mung showed the lowest value (51% and 52% respectively). At 160 mM/L, the highest shoot length (2.8 cm), seedling vigor index (488.26), seedling dry weight (45.9 mg) found in BARI Mung-6 while the lowest in Tila Mung (1.56 cm, 180.93 and 32.52 mg respectively). Regarding all the germination and seedling growth parameters, BARI Mung-6 was found superior to other genotypes. Study should be conducted in the field for better understanding the effects of salinity stress on growth and yield performance of mungbean.

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