EFFECT OF SEED COATING ON GERMINATION, EMERGENCE AND EARLY SEEDLING GROWTH IN ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA L.) UNDER SALINITY CONDITIONS

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a protein-rich forage crop, widely cultivated in Turkey and throughout the world. This study aimed to improve the germination of alfalfa seeds, which are sensitive to environmental conditions during germination and early seedling development. Seeds of the Nimet alfalfa variety that had not been treated after harvest were coated with Panoramix and germinated under salinity stress conditions. Panoramix was applied in three concentrations; zero (control), 2 liters/1000 kg of seeds and 4 liters/1000 kg of seeds. A laboratory germination experiment was laid out in a randomized parcel design using sealed petri dishes with four repetitions and two factors. Salinity stress was applied at zero, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mM NaCl. A greenhouse emergence test was performed using plastic pots filled with a mixture of 50% soil + 50% sand. Irrigation water containing different salt concentrations (zero, 75, 150 and 250 mM NaCl) was applied to the pots. At the end of both experiments, germination rate was calculated and the fresh and dry weight of the pedicels and rootlets were determined. The coating treatments increased the germination of the alfalfa seeds under salt stress conditions.