Based on shoot dry weight, the relative growth rates of the four O. sati6a varieties subjected to 1-week salinity treatments are shown in Fig. 1.Varieties which are considered as salt-tolerant,that is, Bankat and Pokkali, showed higher
growth rate values at 6 dS m1 salinity level compared to the non-salt-treated plants. The saltsensitive varieties, Hitomebore and IR28, on the other hand, did not show this growth stimulation at moderate salinity level. At 12 dS m1 salinity level, all of the tested varieties including Bankat,except Pokkali, showed growth retardation,reflecting the greater salt tolerance of Pokkali compared to Bankat