DETERMINING GERMINATION RESPONSES OF ANNUAL HONEYBEE PLANT (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) UNDER SALT AND DROUGHT STRESS UNDER In vitro CONDITIONS

Salinity and drought are two of the most important factors limiting global agricultural productivity. The aim of the study was to examine effects of salinity and drought on P. tanacetifolia genotypes. The seeds of three P. tanacetifolia genotypes were used as materials [Saglamtimur (A1). Stala (A2), Enton (A3)]. The seeds were germinated at room temperature with 12-h photoperiod and 12-h dark period to screen and evaluate the effects of sodium chloride (NaCI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) based drought on the seed germination process of the P. tanacetifolia. Three NaCI (0, 50, 100 mM) and PEG 6000 (0. 5%, 10%) doses were applied to the seeds. Germination energy (GE) and germination percentage (GP) were recorded on 3th and 81h day. Root length (cm), shoot length (cm), fresh weight (g), and dry weight (g) were measured on the 81h day by randomly selecting 15 seeds per replication. Also. promptness index (PI), germination stress tolerance index (GSTI) and simple vigour index (SVI) were calculated. All data obtained in the study were subjected to analysis of variance in accordance with the completely randomized design as triplicate. Salinity was affected more negatively than drought in all genotypes. Enton (A3) was inferred as more resistant genotype among all genotypes.