Germination and Seedling Development Performances of Psyllium (Plantago ovata L.) Under Salinity Stress

The study aimed to determine the effects of different levels of salinity stress on germination and seedling development parameters of the Psyllium plant. The study was conducted in Siirt University, Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Laboratory under controlled conditions. The plant material of the study consisted of Plantago ovata L. genotype originating from India. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was used as the salt form. The laboratory study was established in petri dishes according to the randomized plots experimental design with four replications. Salt (NaCl) doses of 0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, and 200 mM were the subject of the study. In the study, germination percentage, mean germination time, germination uniformity coefficient, germination index and germination energy among germination parameters and seedling fresh weight, root lenght, shoot lenght, seedling vigor index and root/shoot ratio among seedling parameters were analyzed. Statistically significant decreases were found in all germination and seedling growth parameters examined due to increased salt concentrations. Salt stress is a critical abiotic stress on Psyllium plant and has strong negative effects on plant growth. In this context, 50 mM NaCl concentration can be considered as the threshold value for Psyllium plants during germination and seedling development.