POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Sta. Mesa, Manila
College of Science, Department of Biology
ACTIVITY 1: EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON SEED GERMINATION AND ROOT
GROWTH OF MUNG BEAN (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)
Santisidad, Mary Glo Anne G.1
Abstract
Mung bean (Vigna
radiata) is a fast-growing, warm-season legume
crop that is primarily cultivated in developing
countries of Asia. Mung bean is cultivated
mostly in South, East and Southeast Asia by
small holder farmers for its edible seeds and
sprouts. Susceptibility towards salinity stress has
limited the productivity of mung bean. In this
activity, various salt concentrations will
determine the survival rate of seed germination
of mung beans in higher and lower concentration
of salinity. There are 9 variety of concentrations
prepared in this activity. Each salt
concentrations were first diluted and computed
to create the following: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%,
0.75%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 3.5%. Including the no
treatment samples (Dry (no water) and tap
water). The results of the data showed that, after
3 days, a presence of radicle or a white root tip
was observed. The emergence of the radicle
began splitting of the testa or the seed coat. Only
the 3.5% concentration and dry almost did not
germinate. Day 5 already had an epigeal
germination; cotyledons officially started
opening its end while some concentration has
the presence of leaves already however the rest
have not really grown up yet. The tap water &
0% salt concentration have already developed
true leaves however the dry and 3.5% still did
not germinate. Lastly, day 7th, 0% and tap water
fully germinated and showed true shoots and
roots however the dry and 3.5 salt concentration
did not germinate at all while the rest 0.75%,
0.5%, 1.0%, 0.25, 1.5% showed incomplete
germination. The experiment was performed last
January 19, 2018.
KEYWORDS: GERMINATION,
CONCENTRATION, MUNG BEAN
 osmotic compounds, which played an important
Introduction
role to conservation the inner cellular structures,

Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) is also and decreased the harmful of oxidation. The

known as green gram, golden gram, Oregon pea, main objectives in this activity: To determine

chickasano pea, chiroko or simply mung. Soil which salt concentration would not inhibit the

salinity is a major concern to the agriculture in process of seed germination of mung bean. Next,

arid and semi - arid regions. According to an to quantitavely evaluate the effect of salinity by

estimation one - third of the world’s land surface measuring the length, width and dry weight of

is arid or semi - arid (4.8 × 109 ha.) out of which roots of mung bean; and compare the effects of

one - half is estimated to be affected by salinity. salinity and drought stress.

The problems of salinization are increasing,

Methodology
either due to bad irrigation drainage or

agriculture practices. Despite its relatively small

The experiment began by collecting all the
area, irrigated land is estimated to produce one -
materials needed. Then, NaCl was dissolved in
third of the world food. Under salinity
100-ml distilled water and computed to create
conditions depression of germination
the various salt concentrations needed and
percentages is usually takes place by a combined
weighed. The different salt concentrations were:
effect of seed imbibitions capacity as a result of
0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 3.5%.
low osmotic potential of the soil solutions and
Afterwards, the tissue was folded with two
specific ion effect. Increasing concentration of
sheets of paper towel in half two times to
salts reduced the seed germination percentages
produce eight sheets thick and using a pencil
and growth of many crops were reported by
trace the shape of the bottom of the plastic cup
many authors (Kassray and Doering , 1989 ; Al-
and cut. The cut paper towels were placed in
Zubaydi et al. , 1992 ; Nasir 2002 ; Al - Seedi ,
each plastic cups with label and group number.
2004). The metabolic response of the plants to
Meanwhile, put 80ml of each salt solution using
the salt stress was the constitution of compatible
graduated cylinder inside the cups. Carefully, recorded on Day 0, Day 3, Day 5, Day 7, Day

add 20 pieces of mung bean in each plastic cups 10 and 14. Respectively, the root axis were

and give them space, evenly apart on paper measured until day 14 then, all roots were

towel. Afterwards, it was stored in a room collected per salt concentrations and dried them

temperature away from sunlight to avoid drying out in the oven to measure the dry weight.

them out. Observed and the results were

Data and Results

DAY 0

Figure 2. Effect of mung bean germination from various concentrations on

day 0.
Data and Results
DAY 3

0.5% 0.25% 0.75% 0%

1.0% 1.5% 3.5% DRY

TAP WATER
Figure 2. Effect of mung bean germination from various concentrations on
day 3.
Data and Results

DAY 5

0.5% 0.25% 0.75% 0%

1.0% 1.5% 3.5% DRY

TAP WATER
Figure 1. Effect of mung bean germination from various concentrations on
day 5.
Data and Results
DAY 7

0.5% 0.25% 0.75% 0%

1.0% 1.5% 3.5% DRY

TAP WATER
Figure 2. Effect of mung bean germination from various concentrations on
day 7.
Data

Salt concentration (c) Grams of NaCl (s)

(by weight)

No water (dry) 0
Tap water 0
0% 0
0.25% 0.25
0.5% 0.49
0.75% 0.74
1.0% 0.99
1.5% 1.48
3.5% 3.46

SALT CONCENTRATION DRY WEIGHT

Dry N/A

Tap Water 0.383

0% 0.037

0.25% 0.0017

0.5% 0.0095

0.75% 0.0056

1.0% 0.0010

1.5% 0.0073

3.5% N/A
 DAY 0

DAY 3 DAY 5
NUMBER NUMBER
TYPE OF OF SEEDS TYPE OF OF SEEDS
SET UP WITH SET UP WITH
ROOTS ROOTS
Dry 0 Dry 0
Tap Water 5 Tap Water 11
0% 9 0% 13
0.25% 2 0.25% 4
0.5% 4 0.5% 7
0.75% 4 0.75% 6
1.0% 0 1.0% 1
1.5% 3 1.5% 3
3.5% 0 3.5% 0
 DAY 7
NUMBER
TYPE OF OF SEEDS
SET UP WITH
ROOTS
Dry 0

Tap Water 16

0% 17

0.25% 6

0.5% 11

0.75% 10

1.0% 2

1.5% 8

3.5% 0 seed 2 and seed 7 having 0.4 cm. In 0.25% salt

concentration, no germination has observed nor

recorded. The 0.5% salt concentration, all

Discussion
remaining 7 seeds had a length of 0.5 cm root.

The results from the data of Day 3 showed fast While in the diameter was 0.2 cm. which means

growth while others have not yet. Starting from the rate of the ability of seeds became low in this

the dry sample, no growth has seen since it did concentration. In 0.75%, only 6 seeds were able

not have any moisture at all nor water. Therefore to grow longer, having 0.5 cm lengths. The

it remained quiescent. In Tap water, the seeds’ diameter, all 6 seeds have 0.2 cm and the rest

condition have already grown or germinated. did not germinate. In 1.0% salt concentration,

The seed 3 had the longest root length having 2 has the same result with 0.75% NaCl

cm radicle while in diameter, the seed 1 and 3 concentration. 1.5% salt solution, all seeds

had 0.3 cm length. 0% concentration of NaCl, all produced no germination at all for both length

remaining 11 seeds have the measurement of 0 and diameter. Lastly in Day 3 with salt

cm and the longest was seed 7. In diameter was concentration of 3.5%, no germination took
place. For Day 5, in dry samples, no germination lengths and so the diameter as well, seed 1

took place since no any treatment was placed having 0.4 cm length while seed 2 having 0.3 cm

same as the 3.5 salt concentration because of length and both have 0.1 cm diameter. The 1.5%

high salinity which causes toxicity inside the cell salt concentration’s longest length was seed 1

to malfunction on their growth. In tap water, having 1.3 cm root and in diameter was 1 cm.

only 11 seeds left that have roots. For 0%, 13 which cause a decrease in growth. Lastly, 3.5%

seeds that has root. 0.25%, only 4 this might be salt concentration still did not germinate due to

due to their low salinity and tolerance. For 0.5% high salinity wherein osmotic pressure created

had 7 roots sprouted. 0.75% concentration got 6 by sodium chloride, water cannot enter

seeds with roots which means the germination the seed coat; instead, salt enters and causes

lowered and inconsistent. 1.0% only 1 seed with toxicity to plants’ metabolism.

root. 1.5% got 3 and 3.5% no roots germinated.

Conclusion &
For Day 7, still no germination happened in dry

samples. In Tap water, seed 5 had the longest Recommendation

length having 5.7 cm while in diameter,
As for the conclusion, the mungbean Vigna
remaining seeds had 0.2 cm. Likewise in a 0%
radiata exhibited significant and high variations
concentration of NaCl, the longest length
for adaptation to salt stress. Salinity stress
recorded was seed 11 and in diameter was 1 cm
involves changes in various physiological and
which means that the mung bean growth in tap
metabolic processes, varies with stress severity
water and 0% concentration was the most
and its duration and ultimately inhibits crop
favorable water requirement for seed
production. Initially, soil salinity represses plant
germination. While 0.25% 1.5 cm was the
growth through osmotic stress, which is then
longest root length observed while the diameter
followed by ion toxicity. Salinity stress causes a
had 1 cm as the longest. However, in 1.0%
significant reduction in mungbean yield through
concentration, only 2 seeds had decimal root
decline in seed germination, root and shoot
lengths, fresh mass and seedling vigor and varies concentration increased, almost a 100% of seed

with different genotypes. A decline in normal did not germinate. Although the seeds may

growth, germination %, inhibition in root and recover from the transfer of water through

shoot length and decreased in dry weights of osmosis, due to the limited two-day germination,

seedlings were observed. For the highest the seeds might haven’t been able to recover on

concentration performed in this experiment, time for seed germination to occur.

3.5% has high salinity concentration which

Therefore, future research using biochemical
causes increased of H2O2 content in both roots
markers can provide better understanding of
and leaves, hence salts should be removed to
toxicity mechanism at both inter and
ensure proper growth and development. Both
intraspecific levels.
root and shoot lengths were reduced and

damaged with increased NaCl concentration, but

roots were more damaged. However as the

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