The salt tolerance of two greenhouse bell-pepper hybrids (Capsicum annuum L.,`Sonar' and Lamuyo') was studied during germination, seedling growth and vegetative growth in hydroponic culture. Salinity treatments were imposed by irrigating with half-strength Hoagland solution containing 0, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 mM/l of NaCl. Salinities up to 50 mM delayed germination but did not reduce the ®nal germination percentage. It was reduced signi®cantly at 100 and 150 mM NaCl in both hybrids. Seedling growth was reduced signi®cantly with salinities higher than 10 mM NaCl. Plant growth parameters such as plant height, total leaf area and dry weight were signi®cantly (P0.05) reduced at salinities higher than 25 mM NaCl in both hybrids. Roots had the highest Na concentration compared to leaves, which increased with increasing salinity, while Cl À in leaves was much higher than Na . Potassium concentration of plant tissues was less affected than Na and Cl by salinity increase. Total fruit yield in both hybrids was signi®cantly reduced at salinities higher than 10 mM NaCl, the reduction being 95% at 150 mM NaCl. Both, fruit number per plant and fruit weight were reduced by the salinity. Our results suggest that during the growth stages studied, the hybrid`Lamuyo' is more sensitive to salinity than the hybrid`Sonar'.

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