FONTES E NÍVEIS DE SALINIDADE NA GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE Crotalaria juncea L. Sources and levels of salinity on germination of Crotalaria juncea L. seeds

This study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), sodium chloride (NaCl), and potassium chloride (KCl) salts on germination of Crotalaria juncea L. seeds. The seeds were placed in gerbox boxes lined with two filter paper sheets and wet with test-solution. In each treatment, 200 seeds were used, distributed in four replicates of 50 seeds. The induction of the salt stress was done with solutions of NaCl, CaCl 2 and KCl with osmotic potential of 0, -0.4, -0.8, -1.2, -1.6, and -2.0 MPa. Germination percentage, phytotoxicity, seedling size, mass of dry matter, and IVG were assessed. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a (3x5)+1 factorial structure, composed of three salt sources in five levels and a test-solution. The increasing concentration of KCl caused toxicity, hindering the IVG, the germination percentage. and the seedling growth of C. juncea, while the concentrations of NaCl and CaCl 2 did not cause significant difference in seed germination and seedling vigor.