EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION WATER SALINITY ON GERMINATION, GROWTH AND CELL MEMBRANE STABILITY OF CORNPLANT ( Zea mays 1.)

The effect of four different types of irrigation water were studied for some morphological and physiological parameters of corn plant ( Zea mays L.) Rabbi variety . Velocity and percentage of germination and plant growth were reduced upon saline irrigation water treatments ( drainage and ground water ) . There was an increase of sodium ions in plant content and a decrease of potassium ions content with the increase of sodium concentration in irrigation water . Also , saline irrigation water (drainage and ground water ) showed a high level of leaf solutes leakage with high level of root cells relative injury as compared with non saline medium . Results indicated that the damage of cell membrane was due to the high level of salinity which increased the sodium ions of plant content against a decrease of potassium ions content.