Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the responses of some alfalfa varieties to different drought stress at germination stage. Alfalfa varieties Bilensoy-80, Alsancak, Gözlü-1, Prosementi and Isıde were used as plant materials. Four different drought stress levels (0, -2.95, -4.91 and -10.27 bar) were handled in this study and were used Polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) to create of drought stress at different levels. The experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with two factors and four replications. In the experiment, some characters such as germination percentage, plumula length, radicle length and vigour index were examined. The results revealed that drought stress had a significant effect on all characters. Germination percentage, plumula length, radicle length, and vigour index ranged 0.00-99.50 %, 0.00-43.24 mm, 0.00-54.45 mm and 0.00-43.79, respectively. Considering germination percentage, the cultivars tolerated the drought stress up to- 4.91 bar, but after this level germination percentage decreased significantly. In terms of plumula length and vigour index, the cultivars tolerated the drought stress up to - 2.95 bar and in terms of radicle length the cultivars tolerated the drought stress up to -4.91 bar and were observed a significant decreases or deaths after this levels. Bilensoy-80 and Alsancak had been more successful for drought than the other varieties in experiment.

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