Screening of Some Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Genotypes Under Salinity Stress Based on Germination and Emergence Tests

Abstract

Salinity diminishes germination, inhibits and delays emergence and prevents seedling growth of linseed. Some genotypes or varieties less affected from salinity while the others affected seriously. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of KCl, CaCl2 and MgCl2 levels (0, 10 and 20 dS m-1) on germination and seedling growth of 7 linseed genotypes by screening germination, emergence and seedling characteristics. The results of the germination test showed that all lines germinated. Emergency tests indicated that at 20 dS m-1 KCl level line 193 and line 114 did not emerged and at 20 dS m-1 MgCl2 level line 104 did not emerged. Furthermore line 194 at 20 dS m-1 KCl and 20 dS m-1 CaCl2 levels emerged but died after and line 193 and 114 also emerged at 20 dS m-1 CaCl2 and 20 dS m-1 MgCl2 level respectively and died after. Screening of cultivars under salinity precisely showed the diversity among genotypes and demonstrated that lines 215, 87 and 89 had superiority over others.