Effects of NaCI Stress on Seed Germination of Cucumber

The effects of NaCl stress on germination of cucumber( Cucumis sativus L.)seeds were studied by culturing them in culture dishes. The results showed that effects of dipping seeds in NaCl solution and germinating in water condition on germination of cucumber seeds were small. Seed germination was only inhibited by higher NaCl concentration. The effects on the germination of cucumber seeds treated with NaCl in different concentrations were significant. With the increase of NaCl concentration, the inhibition on germination increased significantly. The vigor index, germination index and lateral root of the first order of cucumber seeds were more sensitive to NaCl stress than the germination rate. Under 225 mmol/L NaCl stress, germination of cucumber seeds was more sensitive to exogenous Ca2+ . The appropriate exogenous Ca2+ (10 mmol/L CaCl2 )can mitigate NaCl stress in some degree. Seed germination can be inhibited by a little higher concentration of CaCl2(≥ 15 mmol/L CaCl2 ) . The inhibition induced by NaCl stress can be mitigated by the appropriate time of hydration-dehydration treatment of cucumber seeds.