Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of salt stress on seed germination of
five groundnut varieties, with the view to determine their level of tolerance to salinity during this
early developmental phase of the plant.
Methodology and results: The study was carried out at Farakoba research station. Calibrated
kernels of five groundnut varieties were submitted to six levels of salt treatments, using a split plot
design with 3 replications. Sixteen (16) seeds per treatment were placed in Petri dishes containing
blotting papers, soaked with different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl): 0 mM, 25 mM,
75 mM, 125 mM, 175 mM and 225 mM. Seeds treated in this way were incubated in an oven at
25°C for a week.
Conclusion and application of results: The study showed that salt not only delayed germination,
but also considerably reduced the germination rate of groundnuts. However, this effect was
dependant on both the stress intensity and the groundnut genotype. The variety SH470P was the
most tolerant to salt stress with a germination rate of 40% under the most severe stress condition
(225 mM), while variety Séreba 1 showed the highest sensitivity with a germination rate of 4%
under the same conditions. Groundnut response to salinity is variety dependent. The possibility to
detect groundnut response to salt stress at an early stage as the seed germination phase saves time
for breeders during varietal trials.

Salt stress, Arachis hypogaea L., adaptation