This investigation was elucidated seedling characters effects of soybean cultivars i.e. Crawford, Giza 111, Giza 21, Giza 22 and Giza 35 due to ageing (storage) in different packaging material i.e. seeds or pods in plastic or cloth bags for different periods i.e. 3, 6, 9 and 12 months under ambient and refrigerator conditions. Seedling parameters i.e. root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weight root/shoot ratio and seedling vigor index were decreased with the period of ageing. Soybean cultivars are stored in plastic bags were affected due to storage but the effects were more pronounced in the plastic bags as compared to cloth bags. It could be stated that Giza 111 exceeded the other cultivars in root length, shoot length and seedling vigor index. Giza 22 and Giza 21 cultivars exceeded the other cultivars in root/ shoot ratio. Giza 35 exceeded other cultivars in seedling dry and fresh weight. Storage under refrigerator conditions at 10 ºC ± 1 exceeded storage under ambient conditions in root length, shoot length, root/shoot ratio and seedling fresh and dry weight and seedling vigor index. Results clearly showed that root and shoot length, root/shoot ratio, seedling fresh and dry weight and seedling vigor index significantly affected by the varies interactions.

In order to investigate the effects of osmotic stress on forage sorghum varieties at critical stage of germination to salinity stress. A study was conducted at the Seed Technology Laboratory of Mansoura University, Egypt during April to June 2012. Three forage sorghum cultivars (Mabrouk, Horas, Pionner-8581) were evaluated in the salinity concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 dSm -1 NaCl. Four parameters namely final germination percentage, germination index, energy of germination and seedling vigour index were estimated. Eight seedling characters namely shoot and root length, shoot and root foliage weight, shoot and root dry weight, seedling height reduction and relative seedling dry weight were measured. Forage sorghum cultivars significantly varied in means of final germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigor index, energy of germination, shoot and root lengths, shoot and root fresh weights, shoot and root dry weights, seedling height reduction and relative dry weight. Horas cultivar surpassed other cultivars in all of the studied characters followed by Mabrouk cultivar which came in the second rank, while Pioneer 858 cultivar came in the last rank. Pioneer 858 cultivar recorded highest values of seedling height reduction and relative dry weight followed by Mabrouk cultivar, while, Horas cultivar came in the last rank for both characters. Increasing salinity levels from 0 to 15 dSm -1 significantly decreased germination percentage, germination index, seedling vigor index, energy of germination, shoot and root lengths, shoot and root fresh weights, shoot and root dry weights and relative dry weight, the control treatment recorded the highest averages of these characters. Thus, the lowest averages of these characters were recorded with highest salinity levels i.e. 15 dSm -1 . Seedling height reduction percentage was increased significantly with increasing salinity levels from 0 to 15 dSm -1 . Results clearly showed that germination index, seedling vigor index, shoot and root lengths, shoot and root fresh weights, shoot and root dry weights, seedling height reduction and relative dry weight significantly affected by the interaction between forage sorghum cultivars and salinity concentrations. It could be concluded that Hoars cultivar was more tolerant to salinity stress followed by Mabrouk cultivars which must be put in breeding program of forage sorghum under salinity conditions.

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Abstract-The purpose of this study was found out to investigate the response of some rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars to germination parameters under salinity stress. This study was carried out to confirm rice seedling growth performance and to examine a range of genetic variability for salinity tolerance among ten rice cultivars under seven salinity levels. A laboratory experiment was accompanied at Giza Central Seed Testing laboratory (CASC), Egypt. The results showed that rice cultivars significantly varied in means of Final Germination Percentage (FGP), Germination Rate (GR), Germination Index (GI), Vigor Index (VI), Root Length, Shoot Length, Root Fresh Weight, Shoot Fresh Weight, Root Dry Weight, Relative Dry Weight and Seedling Height Reduction. Sakha 102 and Sakha 106 had positive effects in most of studied characters while, Giza 181 cultivar had negative effects in most of germination parameters under study. Salinity levels significantly varied in all germination parameters under study except shoot dry weight character. Increasing salinity concentration from 0 to 14% NaCl gradually reduced averages of germination and seedling characters. All studied characters were significantly affected by the interaction between cultivars and salinity stress, vice versa, shoot, root fresh weight and root dry weight didn't affect by interaction. It could be established that for exploiting rice germination percentage and seedling parameters under salinity stress are recognized by using rice Sakha 102, Sakha 106, Sakha 104 and Egyptian Yasmin cultivars with increasing salinity levels up to 14% NaCl. These cultivars were more tolerant to salinity and suggested to use in breeding program for attractive rice production in Egypt .

In order to study performance of mungbean to salinity stress, a laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate salinity tolerance of two mungbean varieties (Kawmy-1 and IV 2010) to eight salinity levels i.e. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 dS/m of NaCl concentrations. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) varieties were compared for germination efficiency and seedling characters. Results indicated that mungbean IV 2010 variety recorded the highest percentages of final germination, germination index %, seedling vigor index, energy of germination, mean germination time (day), coefficient velocity, abnormal seed percentage, root and shoot length, root fresh and dry weight and seedling height reduction. Whilst, mungbean Kawmy-1 variety recorded the highest weight of fresh and dry shoot and relative dry weight. Highest germination parameters and seedling characters of the two studied varieties under control treatment. The obtained results suggested that the two varieties registered a decrease in the percentage of germination and seedlings growth at higher NaCl concentrations. Results clearly indicated that mungbean Kawme-1 variety appeared to be more tolerant to salt stress than IV 2010 variety recording higher germination parameters and seedling characters. Increasing salinity concentrations significantly reduced germination percentage, seedling vigor index, coefficient of velocity, mean germination time, shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight. It could be concluded that germination efficiency i.e. final germination percentage, germination index, energy of germination, mean germination time, abnormal seed percentage, root and shoot length, seedling total fresh and dry weight, dry weight reduction and shoot length reduction were gradually decreased significantly when salinity increased.