Assessment of Cotton Genotypes for Salinity Tolerance at Germination Stage

Abstract

An experiment was conducted for screening salt tolerant and salt sensitive cotton genotypes on the basis of germination rate, germination percentage and radicle length in the regional laboratory of Soil Resource Development Institute, Jashore, Bangladesh. Thirteen cotton genotypes were evaluated under six water salt concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 dS m" and non-saline control. Differences were observed among genotypes with respect to decrease in germination rate, germination percentage and radicle length with increasing salinity levels. On the basis of relative performance, genotypes CB-12 CB-14, CB Hybrid-1, Rupali-1, JA-17/6, JA-17/5, JA-17/7 and DM-2 were identified tolerant while genotypes CB-13, JA/11-M, JA/9-I, JA/11-X and JA/10-J were in salinity sensitive class. Laboratory screening at germination stage appears to be an efficient approach to classify the genotype into salt tolerant and sensitive group.