Effect of different salt concentrations on the germination and early seedling growth of sorghum in laboratory conditions

Salinity in soil is a major abiotic stress affecting crop productivity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions like Uzbekistan. This study investigates the salinity tolerance of two sorghum varieties, Toshkent oq donlisi and Massino, under controlled salinity gradients (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM NaCl). Morpho-physiological traits including plant height, leaf number, fresh and dry biomass, and chlorophyll content were recorded. Various stress tolerance indices were calculated to assess the resilience of both varieties. Results showed that Massino exhibited higher overall salinity tolerance, while Toshkent oq donlisi demonstrated moderate resilience at 100 mM salinity. These findings suggest varietal differences in salinity adaptation and provide valuable insights for crop selection in salt-affected areas.