EFFECTS OF NACL SALINITY ON GERMINATION, GROWTH AND YIELD OF GREENHOUSE CUCUMBER

The effects of salinity on germination, growth and yield of the greenhouse cucumber hybrid Pepinex were studied. Salinc treatments were imposed by irrigrating with water containing NaCl and having EC of 0.3, 1.2, 2.7, 5.0, 10.7 and 16.2 dS m-1 at 25-degrees-C. Salinity delayed germination but did not reduced final germination percentage significantly even at 10.7 and 16.2 dS m-1 EC; root elongation tended to decrease with increasing salinity. Seedling and plant growth were reduced significantly with salinities higher than 1.2 dS m-1. Plant height and leaf area showed an average reduction of 20%, 54% and 85% with salinity levels of 2.7, 5.0 and 10.7 dS m-1 respectively. In all plant parts chloride content was much higher than sodium; visible salt injury symptoms were developed when Na and Cl content in the leaves exceeded 0.40% d.w. and 3.6% d.w. respectively. Relative yield of cucumber fruit was reduced by 15.9% for each unit of increase of EC of the irrigation water above 1.3 dS m-1 EC, the threshold of salinity for the 'Pepinex'. Fruit number per plant rather than fruit size, was more affected by salinity. The cucumber hybrid Pepinex proved to be more salt-tolerant during germination than during vegetative growth or fruiting.