Effect of Salinity on Germination, Growth and Yield of Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.) Varieties

Abstract

The laboratory and pot experiments were conducted at Molecular Horticulture Lab and Germplasm Centre, Khulna University, Khulna during December 2012 to March 2013 to assess the effect of salinity on germination parameters, growth and yield contributing characters of three radish varieties viz. V1 = Tasakisan Mula-1 (BARI Mula-1), V2 = Druti (BARI Mula-3) and V3 = Red Bombay. Four salinity levels control (0.66 dS m-1), 4, 8 and 12 dS m-1 were used as treatment in the experiments. The experiments were laid out in a factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Germination test was done in the laboratory following pertidish method. Data were collected on germination (%), germination energy, germination capacity, germination speed, average root and shoot length and dry weight of root and shoot per seedling. There was wide variation in germination parameters and growth parameters among the varieties due to different level of salt applications. In all the germination and growth parameters Tasakisan Mula-1 (BARI Mula-1) was found superior. Red Bombay was inferior regarding germination and growth parameters. Number of leaf per plant, leaf fresh weight (g), leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), leaf dry weight (g), root fresh weight (g), root dry weight (g), root length (cm), root diameter (cm) and yield (g/plant) progressively decreased with the increasing salinity level as compared to control. Tasakisan Mula-1 (BARI Mula-1) showed better performance in the above mentioned morphological parameters and yield attributes. Druti (BARI Mula-3) was found intermediate. Red Bombay showed the lower value of those parameters. Among the varieties Tasakisan Mula-1 (BARI Mula-1) was the best tolerant to salinity at 12 dS m-1 followed by Druti (BARI Mula-3) at final harvest. Considering all the parameters observed in the experiment Tasakisan Mula-1 (BARI Mula-1) was found the best.