Screening Various Cultivars of Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vagenitum Swartz) for Salt Tolerance.

For the validity of the data, this experiment was repeated. Growth responses of six cultivars of Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) (Aloha, Sea Dwarf, Sea Isle I, Sea Isle 2000, UG22, and Salam) were studied hydroponically in a greenhouse under various NaCl levels (EC 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 dSm^-1) in a RCB design experiment with four replications. Shoots and roots’ lengths and clippings fresh and DM weights were measured weekly and the grasses’ general qualities were evaluated. At the termination of the experiment, roots were also harvested, fresh and DM weights were recorded. The results were essentially the same for both years, showed no significant difference in the shoot lengths of Aloha, Sea Dwarf, Sea Isle I, Sea Isle 2000, and Salam, but UG22 had significantly lower shoot length compared to the other cultivars. In contrast, except at the EC 5 dSm^-1, there were significant differences found in root lengths of all the cultivars at any other salinity level. There were significant differences found in shoot fresh and DM weights of the plants at each salinity level. Aloha and Sea Dwarf had the lowest shoot fresh and DM weights at EC 5 dSm^-1, while at EC 10 dSm^-1, Aloha, Sea Isle I, and Salam had significantly lower shoot and root fresh and DM weights compared to the other cultivars. At EC 15 and 20 dSm^-1, there was no difference between the fresh and DM weights of the cultivars. At EC 25 dSm^-1, Sea Isle 1 and Salam had the lowest fresh and DM weights, however at EC 30 dSm^-1, Sea Isle 1 produced the lowest biomass compared to any other cultivar. No difference was found between the qualities of the grasses at any salinity level. However, as salinity level increased, the general quality of the grasses decreased.