The Effects of Different Salt Concentrations on Sunflower and Cotton Seedlings’ Germination and Growth

Salt stress is an important abiotic factor that limits plant development. The effect of salt stress on the plants varies depending on the salt concentration and plant species. Sunflower and cotton are two different plant species that mostly grown as industrial crop. The aim of this study was to research the effects of different salt concentrations (0 -100 and 200 mM NaCl) on sunflower (Helianthus annus cv Ekllor) and cotton (Gossypium hirsitum cv Lydia) germination and growth. For this purpose, seeds were germinated in petri dishes, watered with salt solutions in controlled conditions during four days. Each application had there replications, and random three seedlings' datas from each petri were recorded at harvest. In sunflower, salinity inhibited seed germination. In addition to this, salinity had negative effect on sunflower’s shoot-root length, fresh and dry weight. Salinity affected cotton germination and growth too. At highest salt concentration, no germination was shown in cotton seeds, so growth parameters couldn’t be determined. As a result of this study, increasing salt doses caused germination and growth impediments in two plant species at different levels. In conclusion, according to our results sunflower seedlings (Ekllor cv.) were found more tolerant to salinity than cotton seedlings (Lydia cv.)