Seed germination and seedling growth of oilrape under saline stress conditions

Abstract

Oilrape is used for human consumption, domestic animal consumption, for biodiesel production, as bee pasture and as an important green manure. This crop is tolerant to many soil types (including saline soils) in the growing regions across the globe. Testing was done on three oilrape winter varieties: Ana, Slavica and Ilia. The influence of salinity on seed quality was determined after the harvest using standard laboratory methods under laboratory conditions. Seed germination in the control ranged from 92.75 % do 96 %. As NaCl concentration increased from 150 mmol/l to 250 mmol/l, germination decreased, and statistically the lowest values were obtained at the concentration of 300 mmol/l in Slavica and Ilija varieties (57-84 %). In all studied genotypes, the first seedlings emerged after three days of testing in the control and at NaCl concentrations of 75 mmol/l, 100 mmol/l, 150 mmol/l and 200 mmol/l. The seed germinated on the medium moisturized with 250 mmol/l NaCl started to germinate after four days of testing, while the seed germinated on the medium moisturized with 300 mmol/l NaCl started germination after five days. The length of seedlings was statistically the most significant in the control in all three varieties. Statistically the lowest values were obtained in the seedlings at NaCl concentration of 300 mmol/l. For successful production under stress conditions, adaptable genotypes which have pronounced positive interaction with environmental conditions should be chosen. Key