Determination of responses of different alfalfa (Medicago sativa l.) varieties to salt stress at germination stage

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the responses of some alfalfa varieties to different salt concentrations at germination stage. Alfalfa varieties Bilensoy-80, Alsancak, Gozlu-1, Prosementi and Iside were used as plant materials. Salt concentrations were composed of five levels of NaCl such as 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM. In the experiment, some characters such as germination percentage, plumule length, radicle length, dry weights of plumule and radicle were examined. Results indicated that the salt concentrations above 100 mM had negative effects on germination percentage and dry weights of plumule and radicle. The endurances of varieties to salt stress indicated differences in respect of all components examined. In addition, the effects of variety x salt interactions were significant for lengths of plumule and radicle and plumule dry weight. There were no plumule development in varieties of especially Bilensoy-80, Gozlu-1 and Iside at 200 mM salt level of NaCl. As a brief, the variety Alsancak had been more endurance than the other varieties in experiment.