Effect of Salinity on Seed Germination Indices and Seedling Parameters of Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of NaCl on seed germination indices and seedling growth of marigold (Tagetes erecta) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2020. The marigold seeds were treated with different NaCl concentrations viz., 0 (control, distilled water), 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 mM in petri plate kept at normal room temperature. The results indicated that the maximum germination percentage, germination rate, coefficient of velocity of germination and vigor index was reported in control with corresponding values of 96.66%, 1.10% per day, 27.85% per day and 6.55, respectively, whereas maximum mean germination time was recorded in 120 mM NaCl (4.96 days). However, the crop has shown tolerance to salt stress up to 40 mM NaCl concentration by recording more than 50% germination and better seedling growth. Thus, it could be concluded that marigold seeds can mildly tolerate the salt stress and this could be further build up under the open conditions.