Fateen Khaliessa Mohd Arifin, Rosimah Nulit, Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim, and Leni Marlina Idris

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2020.135

pp. 1045 - 1052

Abstract

Eggplant is an important crop but no study has been done regarding salt tolerance of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.
cv MTe 2). Thus, the present work aimed to compare the effects of types and concentrations of salt solutions on seed germination
and early seedling growth of MTe 2 eggplant. Ten sterilized MTe 2 eggplant seeds were treated with different concentrations (10,
25, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM) of NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂ and MgSO₄ in Petri dish with deionized water as control. The germination and
seedling growth were significantly reduced as concentration of salt increased in NaCl and KCl. The germination performance and
seedling growth were enhanced in 25 mM KCl. The seeds were unable to germinate even at the lowest concentration of MgCl₂
and MgSO₄. Recovery test revealed that while NaCl and KCl imposed an osmotic stress and induced seed dormancy, MgCl₂ and
MgSO₄ imposed a specific ion toxicity.