The soil, and subterranean and superficial water saltiness process is one of the most important environment degradation problems. Niger is an annual herbaceous with biodiesel production potential, which seeds behavior is unknown in saline conditions. In this way, this work aimed to evaluate the niger seeds germination and initial seedlings growth submitted to different salt solutions. The treatments used constituted of three types of salts: NaCl, KCl and CaCl2 at four osmotic potentials (-0.3; -0.6; -0.9 e -1.2 MPa). The niger seeds sowed directly on substrate water moistured constituted the control treatment. The saline effects on seeds germination were evaluated though germination percentage, germination medium time and germination speed index. The Niger seedlings were analyzed through the shoot and root length and fresh and dried mass seedlings. The statistic design used was entirely casualized, constituted by a factorial 3x5 (salts x osmotic potentials) with four repetitions of 50 seeds. The Niger seeds are salinity sensitive. Seeds exposition to NaCl, KCl and CaCl2 reduces the germinative ability and the seedlings growth at -0.3 MPa. The salt solutions inhibit the Niger seeds germination at -1.2 MPa.
Asteraceae; oil plant; salinity
