Effect of salt stress and seed size on germination and early seedling growth of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

The effects of seed size and salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) were evaluated. The experimental design was two factors factorial (2x5) arranged in a completely randomized design: with our replications. The first factor was seed size (small = 2-3 mm and large = 5-7 mm) and the second factor was salt stress (1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 ds/m). Salt stress decreased shoot and root length but increase Mean Germination Time in both large and small seeds. However at 12 and 16 ds/m in small seeds, seed germinated faster and shoot length and seedling fresh weights were higher compared to large seeds. Small seeds could be preferred for use in saline soils to achieve better stand establishment.