Effects of various salts on the germination of two cultivars of Medicago sativa

The germination responses of Medicago sativa (Yazdi and Hamedani cultivars) seeds to salinity stress by different salt solutions were studied in this project. To evaluate salt tolerance during germination, 25 seeds of each cultivar were placed on filter paper in 9 cm petri dishes containing distilled water (control), 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 mmol · L^?1 saline solutions of NaCl, CaCl₂, and KCl, respectively. The results indicated that the effects of salinity levels were significant (P < 0.05) for percent seed germination, seed germination rate, mean time to germination, length of the stem, and radical and seed vigor. Seed germination decreased significantly by increasing salinity levels. These two cultivars of alfalfa were more resistant to KCl than NaCl and CaCl₂ salts, respectively. In addition, the results showed that the Hamedani cultivar was more tolerant than Yazdi cv. against salinity.