Genetic variation for NaGl tolerance at the vegetative stage was assessed in nutrient solution culture in maize [Zea mays L.). Shoot growth, and plant fresh and dry weight of the two cultivars, Akbar and Sadat were severely reduced after three weeks growth in 120, 150, and 180 mol m ' NaCl. There was however considerable variability between seedlings. Tenthousands seeds ot cv. Akbar were therefore screened for shoot growth at 180 mol in ' NaCI after four weeks growth in sand culture. A selection intensity of 0.42 % was achieved. Eighteen selected plants were polycrossed for estimation of narrowsense heritability based on female parent-progeny regression. A narrow-sense heritability estimate of 0.54 was obtained.The progeny of the salt-tolerant selection line and selfed progeny plants of the unseiected control lines of CVS Akbar and Sadaf were grown for six weeks in 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 mol nr' NaCl in sand culture. The tolerant line produced significantly greater fresh and dry biomass and had greater shoot length than the unseiected cv. Akbar, but the selection line derived from cv. Akbar was equal to the salt tolerant cv. Sadaf in all the growth parameters measured.These data suggest that in maize, improvement in salt tolerance could be obtained through further cycles of selection and breeding.

Narrow sense heritabilities of tolerance to NaCl were estimated in seven grass species using seedling root length after three weeks growth in solution culture containing NaCl. Heritability estimates were obtained from i) female parent-progeny regression, and from ii) selection response and selection differential (realized heritability).Estimates from parent-progeny regression; and realized heritability respectively for each species were as follows Lolium perenne L. 0.44,0.39; Dactylis glomerata L. 0.32,0.24; Agrostis stolonifera L. 0.28,0.27; A. casteliana L. 0.26; 0.31; Holcus lanatus L. 0.19, 0.23; Festuca rubra L. 0.44, 0.36; Pucinnellia distans (L.) PARL. 0.72, 0.77. These data suggest that in all species except perhaps H. lanatus, improvement in seedling NaCl tolerance could be obtained through further selection and breeding.