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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue VII, July 2025

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Effect of Salinity on Six Genotypes of Avena Sativa during

Germination and Seedling Growth

Niti Kushwaha*

, Shiva Singh

, Somya Goswami

, Sharat Srivastava

, Harsh Kumar Garg

Department of Botany, Dayanand Vedic College, Orai, India

Department of Chemistry, Dayanand Vedic College, Orai, India

*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2025.1407000048

Abstract: Avena sativa is a promising crop valued for its nutritional benefits, adaptability and rapid growth. The rapidly increasing

global salinisation threatens more than 10% of arable land, lowering the average yield of major crops. To examine the impact of

salinity on seed germination and seedling development in six Avena genotypes (JHO Kent, JHO 822, JHO 851, JHO 2009-1, JHO

2010-1, and JHO 2012-2) subjected to different salinity levels (EC 4, EC 8, EC 12, EC 16 dS/m), including distilled water. The

seeds were germinated in petri plates. The germination and seedling vigour were significantly affected by increasing salinity, with

notable declines observed at EC 12 and EC 16. Among the genotypes, JHO 822 and JHO 2009-1 displayed the highest salinity

tolerance. JHO 822 achieved 90% germination in distilled water at EC 12 and exhibited superior radicle (19 cm) and plumule (20.76

cm) lengths. Similarly, JHO 2009-1 retained 85% germination at EC 16 and exhibited strong seedling growth, with maximum

radicle and plumule lengths. JHO Kent, JHO 851, and JHO 2012-2 showed moderate salinity tolerance, attaining germination rates

above 75% at EC 16 but with reduced seedling growth metrics. In contrast, JHO 2010-1 demonstrated the lowest resilience, with

germination declining to 40% and minimal radicle and plumule development at EC 16. Across all genotypes, lower salinity levels

(EC 4 and EC 8) supported optimal germination and growth. Thus, the study highlights substantial genotypic variability in salinity

tolerance, with JHO 822 and JHO 2009-1 emerging as promising genotypes for cultivation in saline environments.

Keywords: Avena sativa, salinity, abiotic stress, germination, seedling vigour

I. Introduction

Healthy soil is the lifeblood of plant growth. It provides a stable anchor for roots, supplies essential nutrients, and facilitates the

exchange of water and air. Soil salinity is a major abiotic threat to agriculture worldwide, estimating that more than 6% of the

world’s total land area is affected by salinity. Saline-sodic soils in India occupy approximately 7% of the total land area (1 billion

ha) and 20% of the irrigated arable land in arid and semi-arid regions. This area is increasing (Agarwal et al. 2013). This causes

osmotic stress, ionic toxicity and oxidative stress, affecting beneficial soil microbes, seed germination, seedling establishment,

water uptake, metabolic function and overall crop yield. Seed germination is considered a key stage in the plant's life cycle and is

affected by many ecological factors such as temperature, drought, salt stress, light and soil pH. Salinity impacts germination through

osmotic stress, ion-specific effects, and oxidative stress, reducing germination rates and prolonged germination times (Malaviya

et.al., 2019). Effects of salinity are categorised as primary and secondary. Primary effects include metabolic disruption and inhibited

growth and development, while secondary effects of salinity are nutrient deficiency and osmotic dehydration. By increasing external

osmotic potential, salinity reduces water uptake during imbibition. Approximately 99% of the world’s plant species are sensitive to

even low salinity levels (ECe < 4 dS m⁻¹). Under moderate salinity conditions (EC 4–8 dS m⁻¹), the average yield of major

glycophytic crops decreases by 50–80%. It was observed that tolerance at germination, early seedling, and vegetative growth stages

are of great importance in determining the ultimate tolerance of the crop. Notable advancements have been achieved in breeding

salt-tolerant green vegetables and crops. However, forage species, particularly those derived from wild germplasm, have more

promising solutions for the reclamation of soil. These species carry genes that provide resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses.

Plants react to salinity through two mechanisms: a reduction in external water potential caused by elevated soil salt levels and the

ongoing uptake and accumulation of ions within their tissues. This results in the mortality of sensitive species caused by nutrient

deficiency and osmotic dehydration. Salinity adversely impacts seed germination and plant growth, thereby diminishing crop yield.

The tolerance of a crop during germination, early seedling, and vegetative growth stages is crucial for assessing species tolerance.

Oats (Avena sativa L.), belonging to the family Gramineae (Poaceae), hold significance as they rank sixth in global cereal production

and are extensively cultivated for food, feed, and fodder. The genus includes diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid species with a basic

chromosome number of X = 7 (Kushwaha et al., 2003). Cultivated oats are allohexaploids (2n = 6x = 42) derived from three

ancestral diploid Avena genomes (A, C, and D) (Bennet and Leitch, 1995). In India, oats are grown on approximately 0.5 million

hectares, while the global cultivation area spans 9 million hectares annually for grain, fodder, and straw production (Sánchez-Martín

et al., 2014). The crop's global importance is rising due to its ease of cultivation and profitability. Oats are a favoured winter cereal

fodder crop in northwestern and central India and are increasingly grown in eastern and southern regions. They yield palatable and

nutritious forage and are gaining popularity as a healthy food source because of their high dietary fibre content, particularly beta-

glucan (Villaluenga and Penas, 2017). Because of their high beta-glucan content, a soluble fibre that lowers cholesterol, oats are

also known to have positive effects on diabetes management (Singh et al., 2003). While moderately tolerant to drought, cold, and

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mineral deficiencies, oats are more sensitive to salt stress than cereals like barley and wheat. Nevertheless, they can grow in diverse

soil types and exhibit substantial saline-alkali tolerance The study aims to identify tolerant and susceptible oat genotypes by

examining their germination ability, and seedling traits under varying levels of salinity. This evaluation is crucial for selecting

genotypes that can be used in breeding programs to develop oat varieties suitable for salinity-affected areas.

II. Material and Methods

Seeds of six genotypes of oat were procured from ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi.

Screening for germination and seedling vigour in vitro

Five different electrical conductivity (EC) treatments, including control, were given in six genotypes: JHO2009-1, JHO2010-1,

JHO2012-2, JHO Kent, JHO822, and JHO851. To induce salinity stress during germination, solutions with varying levels of

electrical conductivity (4, 8, 12, 16 dS/m) were prepared by mixing NaCl, MgCl₂, CaSO₄, and Na₂SO₄ salts in varying quantities in

distilled water (Dheeravathu et. al., 2018). Twenty seeds per genotype for every treatment were placed on sterilised filter paper in

petri dishes. For control sets, the filter papers were soaked with distilled water (DW), while for saline treatments, soaking was done

with saline water with electrical conductivity (EC) of EC4, EC8, EC12, and EC16 dS/m. Data on germination were recorded 7 days

after soaking, and the total number of germinated seeds with radicle and plumule growth was recorded. Radicle and plumule lengths

were recorded on 3 seedlings in each set on the 15th day to measure seedling growth.

Data Analysis

Salinity intensity index (SII) was determined using the formula SII = 1 - XSS/XNS, where XSS and XNS represent the average

values for all accessions in salinity-stressed (SS) and non-stressed (NS) conditions, respectively, as (Fisher and Maurer,1978).

The salt susceptibility index (SSI) was calculated using the formula SSI = (1 - YSS/YNS)/SII, where YSS and YNS are the mean

values for a specific accession under stressed and non-stressed conditions, respectively, (Bayuelo-Jiménez et al. 2002).

Based on the SSI values, genotypes were categorised as susceptible, tolerant, or highly tolerant, with lower SSI values indicating

greater tolerance. Statistical analyses, including standard deviation calculations, Student’s t-tests, two-factor analysis of variance,

and regression analyses, were performed using the MS Excel software.

III. Results and Discussion

Germination% was mainly driven by genetic differences in this particular set of data. Even at higher salinity (EC12, EC16),

genotypes JHO 2009-1 and JHO 851 still showed high germination. Radicle length was strongly inhibited by higher salinity for all

genotypes (i.e., the “salinity effect” dwarfed the “genotype effect”). Radicle length does differ significantly across salinity levels

(DW > EC4 > EC8 > EC12 > EC16), while differences among genotypes are not large enough. Plumule length was impacted

significantly by both genotype and salinity. Genotypes JHO 851 and JHO 822 consistently produced longer shoots, but all

genotypes tended to show shorter shoots as salinity went up. As salinity increases, plumule length generally decreases (with a few

exceptions). Meanwhile, genotypes JHO 851, and JHO 822 maintain longer shoots overall than JHO 2010-1.

Table 1- Mean, SII and SSI in Avena sativa genotypes at different salinity levels:

Fig. 1-

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Fig. 2-

Fig. 3-

Fig. 4-

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Our findings revealed significant genotypic differences in salinity tolerance among the tested oat genotypes. While certain

genotypes demonstrated resilience during the germination stage (JHO 2009-1 and JHO 851), others exhibited tolerance at the

seedling stage (JHO 822). This dual-stage variability underscores the importance of selecting genotypes based on specific growth

phases when developing salt-tolerant varieties having negative SSI values, indicating their salinity-tolerant nature (Roy et. al.,

2021).

Consistent with previous studies (Akbarimoghaddam et al., 2011; Kumawat et al., 2022), our data showed a reduction in

germination rates as salinity levels increased. High salinity exerts detrimental effects on germination due to ion toxicity, which

results from simultaneous increases in anions and cations in the surrounding solution. This imbalance disrupts critical processes

like water imbibition and enzyme activation, reducing germination efficiency.

Table 2- Germination%, radicle and plumule length at different levels of salinity in Avena sativa genotypes:

Fig. 5-

Higher salinity also significantly impacted seedling growth by interfering with the plant's ability to absorb essential nutrients. This

aligns with findings by Chauhan et al. (2016) and Veeral et al. (2018), which suggest that high salt concentrations in the soil solution

inhibit the uptake of crucial ions such as potassium and calcium. The reduction in nutrient availability leads to stunted growth and

diminished vigour, particularly in susceptible genotypes.

Studies (Chauhan et al., 2016; Devi et al., 2018) emphasise that plant expansion—including radicle and plumule elongation—is a

vital indicator of salt tolerance. In our study, genotypes like JHO 851 maintained relatively longer radicle and plumule lengths

under salinity stress, highlighting their adaptive mechanisms to mitigate ion toxicity and osmotic stress. These traits suggest the

potential of JHO 851 for breeding salt-tolerant oat varieties.

IV. Conclusion

The variability in salinity tolerance across different genotypes and developmental stages demonstrates the complex interaction

between genetic and environmental factors. Targeting specific traits, such as germination efficiency and seedling elongation under

stress, can aid in selecting and breeding salt-tolerant oat genotypes. These findings contribute to sustainable agricultural practices

in saline-affected regions.

Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi for providing the seeds.

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