Effect of Sodium Chloride Salt on Germination, Growth, and Elemental Composition of Alfalfa Cultivars with Different Tolerances to Salinity

The aim of this study was to evaluate physiological responses and elemental composition three salt tolerant alfalfa (Medicagosativa L.) cultivars, ‘Halo’, ‘Bridgeview’, ‘Rugged’, two intolerant cultivars ‘Rangelander’ ‘Vernal’ under five salinity levels (0 dSm−1, 4 8 12 dSm−1 16 dSm−1) in a sand based hydroponic system the greenhouse. germination percentage among highest for ‘Halo’ stress. ‘Rugged’ had higher seed vigor than other EC. Among chlorophyll content at 0–12 There variation root (p = 0.01) shoot 0.03) biomass cultivars. Salt stress reduced < 0.001) plant height biomass, with 4.2% 7.9% reduction each 1 dS m−1 increase, respectively. Shoot showed positive correlation 0.001, r 0.80), 0.56), 0.51), but not correlated vigor. This demonstrated that stage can be used predict tolerance mature growth stages, however leaf serve as markers high selection stages