RESPONSE OF SOME RICE (Oryza sativa L.) CULTIVARS TO GERMINATION UNDER SALINITY STRESS

The purpose of this study was found out to investigate the response of some rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars to germination parameters under salinity stress. This study was carried out to confirm rice seedling growth performance and to examine a range of genetic variability for salinity tolerance among ten rice cultivars under seven salinity levels. A laboratory experiment was accompanied at Giza Central Seed Testing laboratory (CASC), Egypt. The results showed that rice cultivars significantly varied in means of Final Germination Percentage (FGP), Germination Rate (GR), Germination Index (GI), Vigor Index (VI), Root Length, Shoot Length, Root Fresh Weight, Shoot Fresh Weight, Root Dry Weight, Relative Dry Weight and Seedling Height Reduction. Sakha 102 and Sakha 106 had positive effects in most of studied characters while, Giza 181 cultivar had negative effects in most of germination parameters under study. Salinity levels significantly varied in all germination parameters under study except shoot dry weight character. Increasing salinity concentration from 0 to 14% NaCl gradually reduced averages of germination and seedling characters. All studied characters were significantly affected by the interaction between cultivars and salinity stress, vice versa, shoot, root fresh weight and root dry weight didn't affect by interaction. It could be established that for exploiting rice germination percentage and seedling parameters under salinity stress are recognized by using rice Sakha 102, Sakha 106, Sakha 104 and Egyptian Yasmin cultivars with increasing salinity levels up to 14% NaCl. These cultivars were more tolerant to salinity and suggested to use in breeding program for attractive rice production in Egypt.