Abstract
Effect of salinity on germination, vegetative growth and reproductive yield was investigated on twelve different canola varieties Canola-I, Canola-II, Canola-III, Abasin-95, Ganyou-5, Ganyou-2, Oscar, Shiralee, Dunkled, Westar, Rainbow, Hyola-42 Seeds were germinated in test tube placed on filter paper strips, soaked in different NaCl concentrations (0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1%, 1.2%, 1.4%). Canola-III, Ganyou-5, Oscar, Dunk-led, Westar and Rainbow showed good germination in all treatments as compare to other varieties.
In order to study their comparative growth performance, eight varieties were selected showing better germination percentage under saline conditions. The seeds were grown in pots filled with sandy soil and irrigated with different sea salt concentrations ( 0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%,0.8%). Increased salinity showed significant reduction at different parameters. Plant height and leaf number decreased with increase in salinity. Gradual reduction was observed in pod number with increase in salinity levels at all treatments. Overall seed yield / plant was reduced by salinity in term of both the seed number and weight. Slight reduction was noticed up to 0.6% treatment, but comparatively greater reduction was observed at 0.8% sea salt.