Detection of salt tolerant hybrid maize as germination indices and seedling growth performance.

Bagum, S. A., M. Billah, N. Hossain, S. Aktar and M. S. Uddin, 2017. Detection of salt tolerant hybrid maize as germination indices and seedling growth performance. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (5): 793–798 Salinity is a major environmental stress factor for crop production and is an extensive limitation for seed germination. A germination test was carried out with four replications and three levels of salt concentrations (0 dS.m-1, 6 dS.m-1 and 12 dS.m-1) in plastic tray under quartz granules. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that all traits were signifi cance (P < 0.01) for genotypes, treatment and their interaction. Germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS), germination index (GI), maximum root length (MRL), maximum shoot length (MSL), total dry matter (TDM), and salt tolerance index (STI), seed vigor index (SVI) were all decreased as the level of NaCl was increased. Mean germination time (MGT) and Percent reduction in dry weight over control (ROC%) was increased as the NaCl concentration increased. From the result, it is concluded that 962, Super gold, Kaveri-50, PAC-999, 9120, 900M Gold and C-6485 hybrids would be tolerant while prince articulated as salt sensitive.