Effect of Salt Stress on Germination and Seedling Development in Leucaena leucocephala PDF

Keywords

seedlings, Saudi Arabia, agriculture

Abstract

To determine the possibility of introducing Leucaena leucocephala into saline areas of Saudi Arabia, observations were made on the effect of salt stress on germination and seedling development of this species. Germination percentage and rate were both reduced in the presence of various monovalent and divalent ions. Monovalent ios were more inhibitory than divalent ions for germination percentage and germination rate. Germination of Leucaena leucocephala was more tolerant to these ions than seedling development. Salinity reduced root growth more than sheet growth and ions accumulated in plant tissues to toxic levels. It was concluded that like other legumes, Leucaena leucocephala is salt sensitive and may not prosper in those regions of Saudi Arabia with high salinity.