The Influence of Salinity on Seedling Growth of Some Pumpkin Varieties Used as Rootstock

Abstract

In this study, the effects of different salinity levels (0, “control”, 2, 4, 8, and 12 dS m-1) on seedling growth of Obez, RS 841 and Ferro F1 pumpkin varieties, widely used around the world as rootstock, were investigated. Seedlings grown under saline conditions were investigated for plant main stem length, plant length, root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weights and ion concentrations (Ca++, K+, Na+) in the leaves of pumpkin varieties. The results revealed that root length, shoot length, root fresh weight, root dry weight, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weights tend to decrease when the electrical conductivity of the solution is increased. Results indicated that these varieties responded different to some investigated parameters under saline conditions.