Selection for salt tolerant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes through germination under saline conditions were evaluated. A 9 atm concentration solution of NaCl + CaCl2 (1 : 1 v/v) and seeds from three cotton cultivars (Acala del Cerro, SU 0450-8909 and Allen 33-57) were submitted to saline (C3) or nonsaline (C(o)) stress during germination over three selection cycles. Six treatments were tested in a randomized-design with nine replications. Allen 333-57 showed a high and significant increase of its germination capacity under saline conditions.