Effect of salt concentrations on seed germination and seedlings growth of the tomato cultivar lycoperiscon esculentum mill

Abstract EN

-ve n tom ato cultivars ("Royal Chico" , "Roma YF", "Super marmand" , "Pearson" , "Haris Mor an", "Strain-B" , and "YFN-8" ) were selected to study the effect of salt concentr ations on seed germinat ion and seedlings growth.

Different levels of salt concentrations of sea wat er dilutio n (0, 10, 15, 20, and 30'}'o in water ) wer e used.

High concentration of salt inhibited seed germination of tomato cultivars.

Germinatio n was dec reased and de layed with increasing salt concent ration.

Th e tomato cultivars had different responses to the different levels of salt concentrations .

High salt levels had dr astic effects on tomato seedlings, and low levels had slight effect on it.

Low to high salinity caused leaf burni ng, yellowing and wilting of tomato see dlings.

It appears tha t tomato seedlings are very sensitive to various levels of salt concentr ation.

The res ults showed a wide ran ge of variation among tomato cultivars in to lera ting salinity conditions and showed good potenti al for improve ment thro ugh bree ding program.