Effects of NaCl stress on plant growth of pumpkin hybrid and figleaf gourd seedlings

In vitro comparison of the salt tolerance of figleaf gourd(Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche.) and pumpkin hybrid(Cucurbita moschata Duch.) of 360-3×112-2 which showed stronger salt tolerance with previously selected experimental results, was made at the seedling stage exposed to a series of NaCl concentrations(0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 mmol/L). The growth characteristics of seedlings including hypocotyl length, fresh weight, dry weight, number of later roots and visual status were determined in 10 days after NaCl treatment. The results showed that significant difference in salt tolerance was exited between pumpkin hybrid of 360-3×112-2 and figleaf gourd, and the salt tolerance of the former was significantly higher than the later. It was suggested that 160 mmol/L and 120 mmol/L NaCl concentrations were the maximum stress values that pumpkin hybrid of 360-3×112-2 and figleaf gourd could tolerate respectively. Those results make hybrid of 360-3×112-2 available in breeding of salt-tolerant rootstock.