and BR40 had higher SG compared to control. With the
increase of salinity to 12 dS m-1, a few number of varieties
IR20, MR232, MR211 and BR40 showed higher SG value
compared to control. At EC level of 16 dS m-1, although
IR20 maintained its higher speed of germination compared
to other varieties, it reduced 70% of SG compared to nonsaline
condition (Table 2). The decreasing tendency of
SG due to increasing salinity was in the conformity with
the reports of others (Mohammed et al., 1989; Khan et
al., 1997). The reduction of speed of germination at high
salt levels might be mainly due to osmotic stres