EFFECT OF SALT STRESS ON GERMINATION AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH IN CABBAGE (Brassica oleraceae capitata L.)

Abstract

Soil salinity is a worldwide problem. It hampers productivity of several agricultural crops and vegetables. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) is one of the most common vegetables grown worldwide. The present study was designed to examine the salt stress tolerance level of cabbage of three varieties (Quicker, Early Queen and Autumn-60) under different salt levels. Germination of seeds of these selected varieties were tested under four saline levels such as 0 (Control), 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m-1 under laboratory conditions. Germination of three cabbage varieties showed that Germination Index (GI), Final Germination Percentage (FGP) at 9 DAS, Vigor Index (VI) at 4 DAS, Root length, Shoot length, Fresh weight and Dry weight were increased at 3 dS m-1 and then decreased after 6 dS m-1 with increasing the salinity level. Further experiment was conducted at growth stage under salinity levels viz. 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m-1 salinity level. The results of pot experiment showed that plant height at 40 DAT and weight of cabbage were inversely affected with increasing salinity level. The % of moisture, % of dry matter, % of ash content were affected with increasing the salinity level. The contents of biochemical constituents such as Protein, Chlorophyll, Proline, Fat, Fiber were significantly affected and mineral nutrient contents such as Ca, Mg, Na, S, P and K were significantly affected with increasing salinity level. The effects were showed due to the change of plant’s morphological, physical and physiological conditions, nutrient imbalance, ion toxicity, antioxident enzyme activity. The yields were more affected with increasing salt stress. Among different varieties, the yield was comparatively higher in Quicker variety but the yield was lower Autumn-60 variety 12dS m-1 salinity level where the yield of Early Queen was moderate. Therefore, among the varieties, Quicker was comparatively salt-tolerant. Early Queen was moderately tolerant and Autumn 60 was susceptible to salt-stress. The experiment suggested that the varieties need to field trail in different coastal regions of Bangladesh.