Genotypic Divergences of Important Mungbean Varieties in Response to Salt Stress at Germination and Early Seedling Stage

Salinity drastically hampers the germination and growth of legumes including mungbean which jeopardizes the food and nutritional security of the rising human population. An experiment entailing varying salinity levels (0, 50, and 150 Mm NaCl) was conducted to investigate the response of salinity on germination and seedling growth of four mungbean genotypes (BARI Mung-7, BARI Mung-8, BU Mug-2, and BU Mug-4). The germination indices such as percentage and rate of germination along with the coefficient of velocity (GP) of all mungbean genotypes were significantly reduced by the salt stress, especially of Binamoog-5 at 150 mM NaCl. Contrarily, BARI Mung-8 remained superior by recording better germination indices under all salinity levels. The same cultivar outperformed the rest of the cultivars based on the greatest weights (fresh and dry) and length of roots and shoots, while BU Mug-2 could not perform at par under a saline environment. Thus, it might be inferred that mungbean genotypes differ in their potential for salt endurance due to the germination vigor and seedling growth robustness and screening of salt-tolerant cultivars could mitigate the detrimental effects of saline environment.