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Influence of Seed Pretreatments on Salt Tolerance of Cotton during Germination 1
Author(s) -
Shan M. C.,
Francois L. E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1977.00021962006900040024x
Subject(s) - germination , salinity , gossypium barbadense , agronomy , distilled water , cottonseed , chemistry , salt (chemistry) , saline , gossypium , irrigation , saline water , horticulture , biology , gossypium hirsutum , food science , ecology , chromatography , endocrinology
One factor which limits crop production in the arid Southwest is the high salinity of soils and irrigation waters; especially during germination and early growth. The purpose of this study was to determine if salt‐conditioning seed pretreatments would be effective in increasing the salt tolerance of cottonseed. Effects of 11 seed pretreatments on cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.) germination under saline and nonsaline conditions were studied in the laboratory to determine their usefulness in increasing relative salt tolerance. Salts, phytohormones, and adenosine monophosphate were used in seed pretreatments and their effectiveness was tested by germinating the pretreated seeds in single and mixed salts of NaCl and CaCl 2 . Several pretreatments hastened germination under salinity by at least 1 day over nontreated controls. However, soaking in distilled water enhanced germination under saline conditions as much as any other pretreatment. Using original seed weight to determine drying time of seeds after pretreatment was inadequate because of gains or losses of solute during the soaking cycle.