EFFECT OF SALINITY STRESS ON SEED GERMINATION OF SOME TOMATO VARIETIES

Several experiments were carried out during 2006-2007 seasons inHorticulture Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture Al-Furat Univ. to evaluate threetomato varieties under different levels of salinity at germination stage and selectsalt tolerant varieties compared with sensitive ones. Split Blot Design witheighth replicates was used. Two factors were applied: Salt concentrations (0,0.28, 0.57 and 0.85 % NaCl) and three varieties (e.g. Pakmor, Special Back andCall Ace or Ice).Data analysis showed significant differences in response betweenstudied tomato varieties and salinity stress at germination stage. Increasing saltconcentration in planting medium –except at 2nd treatment- caused decreased inall studied growth criteria, especially decreasing in germination time andelongating of necessary ability to germinate in all concerned varieties.On the other hand, increasing of salinity caused a growth inhibition, asradicl length, root and shoot living mass were decreased. According to the results, Special Back was more sensitive to high salinity, whereas Pakmor lessone and Call Ice the medium. Also, variation analysis showed a exchangeableinteraction between varieties and salinity, indicating that varieties had differentresponse at each salinity concentration.