EFFECT OF SALINITY STRESS ON SEED GERMINATION OF SEVERAL SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench)

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a cereal crop with great potential to be developed as a source of food, feed, and industrial raw material. Several superior sorgum varieties such as Numbu, Samurai 2, and Suri can produce high yields, but their tolerance to salinity stress has not been determined. Do the three sorgum varieties have the same tolerance to salinity? This study aims to determine the effect of salinity levels on the germination of three sorgum varieties (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench). A two-factor experiment with NaCl salt solution concentrations of 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1% was applied for seed testing of the three sorgum varieties, and it was repeated 5 times in 5 blocks. Germination response to salinity was observed in germination speed (KP), total percentage of normal seedlings (PKNT), percentage of abnormal seedlings (PAKN), percentage of non-germinated seeds (PBTB), dry weight of normal seedlings (BKKN), percentage ofstrong normal seedlings (PKNK), percentage of weak normal seedlings (PKNL), shoot lengthof normal seedlings (PTKN), and root length of normal seedlings (PAKN). The results of the study show that salinity stress reduces seed germination in three sorghum varieties. The Samurai variety is more tolerant to salinity stress compared.