EVALUATION OF SODIUM CHLORIDE STRESS TOLERANCE IN FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE CORACANA L.) CULTIVARS BY OBSERVING MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

Saline soils are unproductive. Plant growth and yield are highly effected by salinity. This may overcome by cultivating salt tolerant varieties. The aim of this study is to figure out, salt tolerant and salt sensitive cultivars of finger millet. Inthis study 12 cultivars of finger millet (EleusinecoracanaL.)seeds were grown at different NaCl concentrations. Germination percentage, root length, shoot length and dry weight of the seedlings were assessed using different concentrations of NaCl. Based on the growth parameters, VR-1076 was confirmed as salt tolerant cultivar and VR-988 was confirmed as salt susceptible cultivar.