Summary
Four melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars were tested for salt tolerance at germination, seedling growth stages, and plant maturation. ‘Noy Amid’ was the most tolerant during germination, achieving 56% germination in 15,000 mg/l NaCl solution. However, this cultivar and ‘Eshkolit Ha 'Amaqim’ were relatively sensitive during the first 4 days' growth of the radicle and the hypocotyl, and the first 3 weeks' development of the seedling. Their yields were reduced under saline as compared with non-saline field conditions. In contrast, ‘Honey Dew’ and ‘Rochet’ had little or no germination in 15,000 mg/l NaCl but showed salt tolerance during seedling growth stages. Yield of ‘Honey Dew’ was unaffected by saline field conditions, and that of ‘Rochet’ was not significantly reduced from the non-saline control. Thus, selection for salt tolerance in melons appears feasible during early vegetative growth stages but not during germination.
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Contribution No. 1032-E, 1984 series, from the Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel
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Nerson, H., Paris, H.S. Effects of salinity on germination, seedling growth, and yield of melons. Irrig Sci 5, 265–273 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258179