Saline and hydric stress on rice germination and vigor

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of saline stress caused by NaCl, Na2SO4 on the hydric stress induced by PEG 6000, on germination and vigor of rice, cultivar IAC 25. The osmotic potential of the solutions varied from 0,0 to - 1,2 MPa. The germination was more affected by salts, whereas the PEG 6000 induced great reduction on shoot growth. The germination and seedling growth was more affected by Na2SO4 and the salts had an action more toxicant than osmotic, while the PEG 6000 presented exclusively osmotic effect. The osmotic potential - 0,8 MPa of NaCl or Na2SO4 may be considered critical for germination and growth of cultivar IAC 25, whereas the PEG 6000, was higly prejudical at - 1,2 MPa.