Abstract

Author:
Md. Eakramul Haque, Md. Rishad Abdullah, Md. Sabibul Haque, A. K. M. Golam Sarwar, Ashaduzzaman Sagar, Biplob Kumar Saha, A. K. M. Zakir Hossain

Doi: 10.26480/trab.02.2025.77.81

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), known for its resilience to abiotic stresses, has the potential to be reintroduced in Bangladesh for food and fodder, particularly in saline-prone coastal areas where major crops often fail. Salinity, a major abiotic stress, is expanding globally, including in the arid and coastal regions of Bangladesh, posing a severe threat to crop productivity. With a view to assess the impact of salinity on the germination of 35 sorghum germplasm, a study was carried out at the Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, from 12 to 19 November 2015. The experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments, each replicated three times. Four treatments were 0, 6, 12, and 18 dS m⁻¹. Salinity treatments were prepared using fresh seawater adjusted to target EC values using an EC meter. Germination parameters such as Germination Stress Tolerance Index (GSI), Root Length Stress Index, and Shoot Length Stress Index were evaluated. The results of the present study revealed that GSI values ranged from 21.81-98.84, 7.51-65.78, and 0-30.66 at 6, 12, and 18 dS m⁻¹, respectively. Based on GSI under moderate salinity (6 and 12 dS m⁻¹), 18 germplasm were shortlisted, including Sorghum BD-737, Sorghum BD-726, Sorghum BD-713, and Safal 999. In a subsequent hydroponics trial, Sorghum BD-737 and Hybrid Sorgo recorded the highest Sorghum BD-726, Sorghum BD-713 grain yields. These findings suggest that selected germplasm, especially Sorghum BD-737 and Hybrid Sorgo, may be promising candidates for further field trials and breeding programs aimed at developing Sorghum BD-737 salinity-tolerant sorghum varieties suited to coastal ecosystems.