Assessing the possibility of increased salinity tolerance in kochia (Kochia scoparia L.) as a new forage plant with application of gamma ray technique

Kochia is an annual، drought and salinity resistant plant، that recently it is a valuable source for feeding animals. In order to evaluate germination characteristic of Kochia under different dose of gamma ray and salinity stress، an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Treatment included three level of salinity (10، 20، 30، dS/m) using NaCl and also treatment without salt (control) and 6 gamma rays level (50، 100، 200، 300and 400 Gray). Variance analysis showed that different levels of dose of gamma ray and salinity stress had a significant effect (P<0. 01) on percentage of germination، germination rate، mean germination time، germination index and dry weight and interaction between them had the same effect. In control condition، control seed had the highest germination characteristics. With increasing in salinity stress to 10 and 20 dS/m، 50 Gray and at 30 dS/m، 200 Gray showed the highest germination characteristics. So using gamma rays in salinity stress can increase germination capability.