EFFECT OF SALT STRESS ON GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF MUNGBEAN

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that negatively affect plant growth and development around the world. Salt stress is the accumulation of excessive salt contents in the soil which results in the inhibition of crop growth and leads to crop death. The present paper deals with the germination of Mungbean seeds under different salt concentration (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) in the dark. Germination percentage was evaluated. The high germination percentage was recorded in water at a control treatment, whereas gradual decreases on the percentages of germination were noticed with the increase of salt concentrations at all treatments. Germination was delayed at higher salt stress. Germination percentage was 100% at control treatment. Germination percentage was 80% at 1% NaCl solution treatment and 6% at 2% NaCl solution treatment. At 3%, 4%, 5% NaCl solution treatment, the germination percentage was zero. The lowering water uptake and inhibiting activities of hydrolytic enzymes are the main reason for retarding the seed germination during salt stress.