EFFECT OF SALT STRESS ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF VIGNA RADIATA L. AND PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.

Abstract

Crops are negatively impacted by soil salinity during key growth phases, which in extreme circumstances results in a complete loss of productivity. Hence, it is crucial to screen for species that are tolerant to salt. In the current study, the impact of salinity on the germination and seedling growth of Vigna radiata(mung bean) and Phaseolus vulgaris (French bean) was examined in an outdoor experiment. Vigna and Phaseolus are two genera of flowering plants in the Fabaceae family of legumes with a global distribution. Using NaCl solutions, selected crop seeds were surface sterilised and subjected to four levels of salt stress: 0 (control T1), 50 (T2), 75 (T3), and 100 (T4)mM. Three replicates of each treatment were employed. For seed germination, seeds were cultivated in petri plates with filter paper wrapped around them with solution of appropriate concentration. The findings showed that germination percentage, germination rate, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, chlorophyll content etc., of Vigna and Phaseolus species decreased as salt stress levels increased. The overall findings showed that Vigna radiata was the most sensitive while Phaseolus vulgaris was the least sensitive species to salt stress in practically every parameter of growth. Basic soil physicochemical characteristics have been also analysed at the time of crop harvesting. Keywords: Mungbean, frenchbean, salinity, germination, plant growth, soil heath.