Germination and early seedling growth of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) as influenced by salinity

Five genotypes of mungbean under three salinity levels (0, 75 and 150 mM) were tested to investigate the germination traits of this crop under salt stress. BARI Mung-5 showed the lowest (GP) reduction (18.18% to control) while the highest reduction of GP (34.78%) was recorded in BARI Mung-2 at high level of salt stress (150 mM NaCl).At high salt stress the GR reduced more (34.77%) in BARI Mung-2 while the reduction was only 18.17% in BARI Mung-5. The coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG) of BARI Mung-2 diminished more but comparatively less inhibition was recorded in BARI Mung-5 under both salt stresses. The highest and the lowest mean germination time (MGT) were observed in BARI Mung-2 and BARI Mung-5, respectively. At 150 mM NaCl conditions, the lowest reduction in shoot length was recorded (40.81%) in BARI Mung-5 and dry weight, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh and dry weight, vigor index and salt tolerance index significantly reduced in all varieties under saline condition. Based on above all these parameters we can arranged all the varieties in such way in salt tolerance BARI Mung-5 > BARI Mung-6 > BARI Mung-4 > BARI Mung-3 > BARI Mung-2. From germination test, it can be declared that BARI Mung-5 and BARI Mung-2 are the most salt tolerant and most susceptible varieties at early growth stages, respectively among all the studied varieties.