Responses of some genotypes of finger millet (eleusine coracana gaertn.) for their salt tolerance

Salinity is one of the major abiotic factors which limit the plant growth. The purpose of present investigation is to study the responses of the finger millet genotypes under saline condition at germination and seedling stage. Seeds were sown in Petri-dishes, lined with Whatman filter paper and moistened with 10 ml of saline solutions of different EC levels (viz. 3, 6, 7.2, 10, 12 and 14 dSm-1). The result showed a gradual and significant reduction in % germination at all salinity levels except in cv. Local Hills at 3 EC. Length, fresh and dry weights of root and shoot were also decreased with increase in concentration in saline solutions. Cv. VL-315 registered least reduction (4.7-56.2%) in seedling dry matter whereas cv. Local Hills recorded highest reduction (12.2-71.8%) at all salinity levels. We concluded that cv. VL-315 performed better and proved to be the most promising variety as it had SSI value > 0.8 whereas cv. Local Hills recorded as most sensitive (SSI value < 1.0).