Germination and Growth Parameters in Sorghum Cultivars (Sorghum bicolor L.) Effected by Boron Application under Salinity Stress

Abstract

The aim of this research is investigating the effects of boron on the germination and growth of three sorghum cultivars at different salinity stress levels. The experiment was arranged as four replications according to the factorial experimental design in completely random blocks The three sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) cultivars (Erdurmuş, Uzun and Gözde 80) selected for the genetic material. NaCl compound was utilized as salt source and solutions were prepared at concentrations of 0-75 mM-150 mM. Boron was applied as H3BO3 at 0-5-10-15 mM. In general regarding growth parameters, the values obtained in Gözde 80 cultivar were determined as the highest averages. Whereas the salinity levels effect was examined in this study, a decrease was determined in the parameters measured as the level of the stress factor increased. Salinity had a high adverse effect at the 150 mM level, and as expected the highest averages were obtained in the control treatments. Low-dose boron applications have possitive effects on germination and growth parameters in this experiment. Therewithal under salinity stress conditions, low-dose boron applications showed affirmative efficacy compared to the control of each condition. In this experiment, determined that boron applications reduce this effect under salinity stress conditions that sorghum seeds may encounter during the germination period, but the boron dose level to be applied should be properly controlled.