Ayiguli HUANBIEKE, LI Jiangping, JIA Kai, YAN Huizhuan, TANG Xiaokai, QIAO Peng, Nazhakaiti Kaihereman
Seed germination is an ideal stage for evaluating salt tolerance in crops. In this study, 18 turnip
varieties (A1-A18) were subjected to different concentrations of NaCl solution (0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, 1.2%, 1.5%,
and 1.8%, designated as T1-T6) to simulate salt stress during the germination period. The salt tolerance was
evaluated by measuring germination potential, germination rate, germination index, hypocotyl length, radicle
length, and fresh weight, combined with membership function analysis and cluster analysis for comprehensive
assessment, aiming to screen salt-tolerant turnip varieties suitable for cultivation in saline soils. The results
showed that low-concentration NaCl treatment (T1) had no significant effect on germination potential,
germination rate, or germination index for most varieties, but significantly increased the seed vigor index. Under
T1 and T2 treatments, the hypocotyl length, hypocotyl diameter, radicle length, radicle fresh weight, and total fresh weight of most varieties were higher than those of the control (CK). With increasing NaCl concentration,
all germination-related indicators were inhibited to varying degrees, with significant differences observed among
varieties. The results of membership function values and cluster analysis indicated that varieties A6, A17, and
A18 exhibited strong salt tolerance during the germination stage, varieties A7, A16, A13, A4, A3, A12, and A9
showed moderate salt tolerance, whereas varieties A15, A14, A11, A5, A8, A10, A2, and A1 were relatively saltsensitive.
These findings provide a reference for the breeding of salt-tolerant turnip varieties and their regional
promotion.
