Response of two different-genotype maize at seedling stage to salt stress and evaluation of their salt tolerance

Two different-genotype maize(ordinary maize-WXWX and waxy maize-wxwx)were used as test materials,and their seeds' germination vigor and germination rate,their plant height at 6,10 and 14 days and their fresh/dry plant weight at 14 days were investigated under 250 mmol/L NaCl stress in order to study the response of the seedling-stage maize to salt stress and test for the salt tolerance of maize materials.The results showed that maize was sensitive to salt stress,and the germination vigor,plant height and fresh/dry plant weight were significantly depressed under salt stress;Various maize materials had significantly different salt tolerances which could be reflected conformably by the change rates of 10 d or 14 d plant height and 14 d fresh/dry plant weight.The tests indicated that among the 18 maize materials 'Tongxi 5'(wxwx)and '4A'(WXWX)were relatively salt-tolerant inbred lines,and 'Suyu 947'(WXWX)and 'Denghai 9'(WXWX)were relatively salt-tolerant interlinear hybrids.