GERMINAÇÃO E DESENVOLVIMENTO INICIAL DE PLÂNTULAS DE MELOEIRO EM DIFERENTES NÍVEIS DE SALINIDADE DA ÁGUA DE IRRIGAÇÃO

Abstract

The effects of salinity on the plant are first noticed during the germination process. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate germination and initial development stage of melon plants hybrids (Mandacaru and Vereda) in different levels of salinity of irrigation water. Research was conduted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Department of Crop Science of the UFERSA from February to April 2007. The treatments were organized in a completely randomized design in factorial scheme 2 x 6 (two hybrids of melon plant Mandacaru and Vereda, and six levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water: 0,45; 1,95; 3,45; 4,95; 6,45 and 7,95 dSm-1), with four replicates. Evaluation of speed of emergence-index, height of the aerial part of the seedling, dry mass of the aerial part of the seedling and seedling emergence. Compared to the Vereda Hybrid, the Mandacaru proved to be the most tolerant to salinity due to higher estimates of the speed of emergenceindex, height of the aerial part of the seedling, dry mass of the aerial part of the seedling and seedling emergence in different levels of salinity of irrigation water.