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Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2001 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 9 | Page No.: 1108-1110
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2001.1108.1110
Effect of Seed Pre-treatments on Germination and Growth of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Under Saline Conditions
A. Javid, M. Yasin and G. Nabi

Abstract: Effect of 10 pre-soaking seed treatments on cotton germination, seedling length and weight at salinity levels of 1.5, 5,1 0,15, 22 and 30 dS m-1 was studied under laboratory conditions. Significantly higher germination, seedling length and seedling weight of cotton was found at S15 and S5 salinity levels. Significant reduction in seed germination, seedling length and seedling weight of cotton was observed with linear increase in salinity. Minimum seedling length and weight was found at 30 ds m-1. The decrease in germination and seedling weight at 10, 15, 22 and 30 ds m-1 was 11, 22,44 and 84 and was 6, 19, 34 and 44 % respectively. Like salinity, pre-soaking had a significant positive effect on germination, seedling length and weight. Soaking of seeds in 15 ml concentrated sulphuric acid for 10 minutes and then dipped in 15 meq/L calcium sulphate for 2 hours (T9) was best of all treatments followed by T4 (seed soaked in 20 ml concentrated sulphuric acid for 10 minutes) and T8 (seeds soaked in 1 5 meq/L calcium sulphate for 2 hours) indicating that various soaking treatments helped in mitigating the hazardous effects of salinity. Values recorded with respect to germination, seedling length and weight were minimum in control (dry sowing).

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How to cite this article
A. Javid, M. Yasin and G. Nabi, 2001. Effect of Seed Pre-treatments on Germination and Growth of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Under Saline Conditions. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 1108-1110.

Keywords: cotton, Germination, soil salinity, soaking and gypsum

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