SEED GERMINATION OF BASIL AND CRESS UNDER NACL AND BORON STRESS

The present research was conducted to evaluate the effects of salinized water with boron and sodium chloride (NaCl) on seed germination of basil and cress. Treatments were: boron solution (25 and 50 mM), NaCl solution (25 and 50 mM) and distilled water as control. The highest germination percentage and mean daily germination of both plants were obtained in boron 25 mM. The highest mean germination time of basil and the day of 50% emergence of basil and cress were found in boron 50 mM. Radicle length of basil was reduced by increment of all salinity treatments; however, the highest cress radicle length was observed in 50 mM NaCl. It is concluded that these plants can tolerate salinized water during the germination stage to some extent, however, the cress show more tolerance to these salinities than basil.