VARIATION IN THE SALINITY TOLERANCE OF STRAWBERRY CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM-FRAGIFERUM L)

Saline soils negatively affect plant growth, so there is a need to dev elop salt tolerant plant materials for rangeland uses. Five strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.) cultivars were compared to 95 plant introductions for tolerance to salinity during germination and greenho use seedling growth. Mean tolerance of the cultivars to NaCl during ge rmination did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from that of the int roductions. Individual plant introduction accessions were superior to each of the cultivars in tolerance to NaCl during germination. Mean sh oot dry weight, shoot height, and number of shoot branches of the cult ivars were greater (p < 0.05) than those of the plant introductions in both the control and saline irrigation treatments. Mean cultivar plan t tolerance to salinity, as indicated by saline/control treatment rati os for shoot dry weight, shoot height, and number of branches, was not superior to that of the plant introductions. Germination tolerance to salinity was not correlated with plant growth in either saline or non -saline irrigation treatments. Ample genetic diversity is present with in strawberry clover to permit development of cultivars with superior tolerance to salinity during seed germination. It will be more difficu lt to develop cultivars with superior plant growth in both saline and non-saline environments.