Salinity Effects on Seed Germination in Different Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.) Varieties

Abstract

Seeds of 9 tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.) cultivars (Apache, Arid-III, Barvado, Da Vinci, Eldorado, Prospect, and Tomahawk), 2 of which were newly introduced (Brigantine and Jaguar 4G) in 2014, were used to investigate the effects of different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) on their germination rate, shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot/root ratio and salt tolerance index (STI). The experiment was designed as a completely randomized with four replicates at the laboratory of Kizilirmak Vocational High School, Cankiri Karatekin University, in 2014. The results showed that different salinity treatments had statistically considerable effects on the germination rate, shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot/root ratio, and salt tolerance index (STI). The values of these parameters were reduced with increasing salt concentration. In all parameters, considerable decreases occurred with 100 mM concentration and the lowest values were obtained from 200 mM. The overall findings suggest that the Apache, Da Vinci, Prospect, and Tomahawk varieties were more tolerant than the other ones.