Comparison of germination parameters and seedling indices of two chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars under saline stress

Salinity in contemporary times is a prevalent abiotic stress that adversely affects extensive agricultural land, particularly in arid places. One potential strategy for optimising land utilisation in areas with salt-affected soil is to employ a screening process for existing germplasm of the crops. Therefore, this facilitates the development of novel crop varieties that exhibit enhanced resistance to salinity-induced stress. Germinating seeds and young seedling stages are the most sensitive phases concerning salinity stress. Salinity inhibits germination and growth of chilli, particularly at the seedling stage, necessitating the development of salt-tolerant cultivars. Several salt-tolerant cultivars of chilli were reported from many global localities in past decades. This communication aimed to assess the effects of salt stress on these two well-known Indian chilli cultivars, namely "Pusa Jwala" and "Black" chilli, during germination and early developmental stages using physiological characters.