GERMINATION DYNAMICS OF EUROPEAN RICE VARIETIES UNDER SALINITY STRESS

Salinity is one of the major abiotic factors that decrease the productivity of rice worldwide. Rice is mainly transplanted crop in the tropical region; therefore, rice plants can avoid the salinity at the seedling stage. However, in most of the European countries, direct sowing is the sole method, thus rice must grow under stressful condition already from germination. In the present study, rice varieties were analysed for salt stress tolerance during germination. Seeds of ten rice varieties were tested and kept under six salt stress levels (0, 30, 60, 90, 120,150 mM NaCl). Seed germination percentage, dormancy time, median germination time, germination rate, plumule and radicle length were used for the comparison. The results showed that due to the increasing salt stress, germination was not delayed and decreased in all cases. In case of 'DunghanShali' the plumule and radicle length increased significantly until 90 mM and 120 mM, respectively. Three more varieties ('M488', 'Risabell' and 'Unggi-9') could maintain growth potential of radicle until 90mM. 'DunghanShali' was found the most tolerant rice variety, while the most sensitive was 'Dular'. Seven varieties have reached higher germination percentage values than the international standard.