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Abstract
The effect of salinity (0 to 0.12 M NaCl) and temperature (20-30°C) on germination of ‘Phoenix’ lettuce seed was studied. Increasing levels of both factors inhibited germination and reduced fresh weight of young seedlings. The salinity by tempertaure interaction was found to be statistically significant in the inhibition of germination. Although the mechanism of this interaction is not known, it was found that osmotic inhibition was reduced at lower temperatures. Kinetin largely overcomes both temperature and osmotic inhibition of germination, but its effect on early seedling development varies with temperature. At 15° no significant effect was observed, but at higher temperatures (23° and 25°) it increased fresh weight at higher salinity levels but had no effect at lower salinity levels.