干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Experiments for evaluation of 22 accessions of three grass species (Panicum antidotale, Cenchrus ciliaris and Sporobolus iocladus) from Cholistan for salinity tolerance were conducted in a growth chamber under controlled environmental conditions at NIAB, Faisalabad. Pakistan. Germination stress tolerance index (GSTI). plant height and dry matter stress tolerance indices (PHSTI, DMSTI). cell membrane stability (% injury) and relative saturation deficits (RSD) of the germinating seeds were measured in all accessions under 0 or 1.5 % NaCl level. The results indicated that the accessions with high GSTI. cell membrane stability (less % injury), PHSTI, DMSTI and low RSD were more salt tolerant than the others thus seem promising for getting good productivity in salt-affected areas. These protocols are low cost, rapid and reliable for screening the germplasm of grasses against salinity.