Influences Induced by Salinity Stress on Germination, Growth and Proline Contents of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Özet

Salinity is major obstacle in crop production throughout the globe. It retards plant growth and brings drastic losses in yield. Therefore, a pot experiment was executed at the research area of University of Agriculture Faisalabad to evaluate the influences caused by salinity stress on maize. Different levels of NaCl (Control, 4 dSm^-1, 8 dSm^-1, 12 dSm^-1and 16 dSm^-1) were used as treatments. Maize hybrid KS-85 was sown as trial crop and complete randomized design was used to allocate the treatments. Data for different parameters were recorded and analyzed statistically at 5% probability level which showed that plant germination and growth were reduced at higher salinity, while, proline contents exhibited the opposite trend. At salinity level 16 dSm^-1, the plumule and radical length was decreased by 89.86% and 92.65% respectively when these were in comparison to those from control. Plumule fresh was decreased by 86.79%, while, the fresh weight of radical was decreased by 84.61%. Similarly, shoot and root length was reduced by 54.28% and 59.72% respectively. The proline content was increased up to 369.23% as compared to control while at 16dSm^-1. In conclusion, maize is a moderately salt tolerant crop, but at higher salinity, growth of maize was impaired and proline contents were boosted up.