Evaluating tomato responses: A means of screening varieties to saline soil

Salinity effects were evaluated on seed germination rate and percentage of six different tomato (Lycoperscum esculentum Mil.L) varieties nationally released form Melkassa Agricultural Research Center. The seeds were grown in petri dish being subjected to six different levels (0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5%) of NaCl concentrations in Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine postharvest laboratory. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design for all levels of NaCl concentrations with four replications. From the result, increasing NaCl concentration reduced seed germination percentage and rate in all cultivars. At the highest NaCl concentrations, highest germination percentages were observed in Bishola and Miya varieties. In addition, Bishola and Miya reached their final germination percentage earlier than the others indicating optimum performance as compared to the other varieties. It was therefore concluded that Bishola and Miya varieties can tolerate salinity and can successfully be grown in the rift valley areas of the country, Ethiopia. In addition, can be used for further breeding processes.