INTERACTION OF SALINITY AND TEMPERATURE ON THE GERMINATION OF SORGHUM

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the effect of salinity x temperature interactions on the germination of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Sorghum seeds were sown in petri dishes with saline solutions of varying concentrations (electrical conductivities of 0.01, 6.4, 12.2, 17.4, 22.6, 27.2, 32.1, and 37.2 dSm-1) prepared with NaCl. The germination responses of the seeds were determined over a wide range of temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40-degrees-C) for a period of 8 days. Salinity x temperature interactions were highly significant at each counting date. Although, increased salinity resulted in decreased germination percentages, the detrimental effect of salinity was generally less severe at higher temperatures. Germination rate index, computed from germination counts taken every 2 days, was influenced by salinity and temperature in a similar pattern as final germination. Seed germination was more tolerant to salinity at germination temperatures of 30-40-degrees-C than at 15-25-degrees-C.