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Germination of guava “Criolla Roja” under different levels of sodium chloride solution

Abstract:

Soil salinity is a serious problem that affects the production of many crops, including the guava (Psidium guajava L.). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) on germination of guava “Criolla Roja” under laboratory conditions. We evaluated saline solutions with electrical conductivities (EC) of 0.5, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 dS∙m-1, and two controls (distilled water and tap water with 0.04 and 0.73 dS∙m-1, respectively). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with six repetitions of 35 seeds each. The germination percentage (GP) was determined every 7 days after sowing for a period of 35 days. Likewise, it was computed the mean time required for the radicle emergency, and twenty-eight days after sowing, the root length, shoot length, and the relation root/shoot were measured. The NaCl treatments had significant effects (P≤0.05) on GP, and root and shoot length. The seeds of guava showed high GP (91.4-100%) until EC of 2.5 dS∙m-1, but GP decreased for the rest of the treatments. Likewise, root and shoot lengths were not affected (P>0.05) up to that EC level. From 4 and 8 dS∙m-1 growth of the shoot and root, respectively, were not observed. It can be concluded that seedlings of guava “Criolla Roja” show a slight tolerance to saline condition until 2.5 dS·m-1 of NaCl.