Determination of Responses of Some Winter Canola (Brassica napus L.) Cultivars to Salt Stress at Germination Period

This study was carried out in laboratory conditions to determine responses of some winter-canola cultivars to salt stress at germination period. The laboratory experiment with four winter canola cultivars; i.e. Egc 7571, Elvis, Es Hydromel and Triangle, was set up as completely randomized design with 3 replications. In the experiment, eight different NaCl doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 mM) were applied to the cultivars and germination rate, germination time, radicula length and shoot length were examined. The results revealed that NaCl doses had a significant negative effect on all characters and germination rate, germination time, radicula length and shoot length ranged as 65.33-100.00%, 3.75-8.71 days, 0.50-12.81 cm, 0.59-8.79 cm, respectively. Considering germination rate, the cultivars tolerated the salt stress up to 125 mM NaCl dose, but after this level germination rate decreased significantly. In terms of the other characters, the cultivars tolerated the salt stress up to 100 mM NaCl with a significant decline after this level. Considering all attributes evaluated, Egc 7571 was less affected by NaCl doses while Elvis appeared to be the most salt-affected cultivar.