Genotypic variability in salt tolerance of Vicia faba during germination and early seedling growth

Salt tolerance of four Egyptian Vicia faba L. cultivars – Nubaria 1, Nubaria 2, Sakha 1 and Giza 3 – was investigated at germination in relation to seed size. The variability in seed size was wide as seed index of Giza 3 was about half that of Nubaria 1. The four investigated cultivars can withstand up to 150 mM NaCl; with marginal reductions in germination capacity but with marked reductions in speed of germination and embryo growth. The vague genotypic variability among the four cultivars in germination parameters emerged more clearly under salt stress. The response of early emergence of the embryo to salt stress seems to differ from that of the subsequent extension of embryonic axis; since based on magnitude and speed of germination Nubaria 1 was the most salt sensitive cultivar but exhibited relatively high salt tolerance on the basis of embryo growth. The salt-sensitive Nubaria 1 produced smaller embryo, with shorter and thicker radicles than the other three cultivars. Germination speed and embryo growth were maximum but lag period was minimum for the medium-sized seeds. Length and thickness of the emerging radicles were affected more by the genotype than by salinity stress and nutrient supply during germination. The beneficial effects of nutrients on seed germination and embryo growth were more evident in the salt-tolerant Nubaria 2 than in the salt-sensitive Nubaria 1.