Effect of quantitative and qualitative performance of four canola cultivars (Brassica napus L) to salinity conditions.

In order to studying the salinity stress effects resulted from sodium chloride on germination, vegetative growth, elements concentration and proline accumulation of four canola cultivars two experiments were conducted in germinator and greenhouse attached in the Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research in East Azarbaijan. The experimental designs were Completely Randomized Design and Randomized Complete Block arrangement in factorial with four replications. The first factor was four canola cultivars included; Licord, Okapi, Elite, SLM046 and second factor was consist of different salinity stress levels included 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl in germination experiment and 0, 75, 150, 200, 250 and 300mM NaCl in pot experiment. The results demonstrated that, different salinity stress levels had significant effect on germination percentage, germination speed and shoot and root length. Also, in pot experiment there was significant effect on plant height, leaf area, dry matter percentage, and seed yield due to salinity stress. In addition, it observed that, there was significant different among canola cultivars traits except leaf area trait. Comparison of means showed that, response of canola cultivars were different at germination and vegetative growth stages. In germination experiment, the most sensitive and most tolerate cultivars were Elite and Licord, respectively. But in pot experiment, Licord cultivar had least growth and yield than SLM 046 and Okapi. also it observed that, there was significant different among these cultivars. Thereupon, it seems that, evaluation of germination properties is not helpful for assessment of salinity tolerance in canola cultivars.