Germination and early seedling growth of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides L.) as affected by salinity

Investigations were carried out in the laboratory in petri dishes under controlled conditions on the relative performance of two hybrid cultivars (Hybrid No. 1 and Hybrid No, 3) of bajra (Pennisetum typhoides L.) under saline conditions. Eleven salinity levels i.e., 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 mmhos/cm EC) were maintained. The speed of germination as well as germination percentage, shoot and root growth and their fresh weight decreased with increase in salinity except at low salinity levels where these characters showed an increase over control. Except for root growth, cultivar hybrid No. 3 proved to-be potentially superior (%Reduction basis) over hybrid No. 1 in almost all the characters studied. Hybrid No. 3 also found to be relatively more salt tolerent than cultivar hybrid No. 1.