Effects of NaCl stress on seed germination and seedling growth of Cucumis sativus

Effects of NaCl stress on seed germination and seedling growth of Cucumis sativus L. were studied in this paper. The results showed that the germination rate of the seeds treated with NaCl concentration at 50 mmol/L was not significantly comparing with control, however the germination of those seeds treated with NaCl at higher concentration (≥75 mmol/L) was inhibited. The activity of a-amylase, the suevival rate of seedlings, the fresh weight of shoots and roots of seedlings, and the R/T rate of seedlings gradully decreased with the increase of the concentration of NaCl. Activity of POD tended towards descenting after ascenting. MDA contents tended to go up steadily within lower concentration of NaCl, then sharply within higher concentration of NaCl. The root activity dropped sharply within lower concentration of NaCl (≤50 mmol/L), then dropped steadily within higher concentration of NaCl (50 mmol/L).