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This experiment was conducted to study salt tolerance of sainfoin populations (Onobrychis viciifolia Scope.) during seedling stage. Sodium chloride was used for inducing salt stress. Sainfoin seed populations from Tabriz, Zanjan, Sabzevar, Faridan, Makoo, Kordestan and Hungary were used in this study.
Sainfoin seedlings grew up to water potential of—O.57 MPa (—5.7 bars). Plant height, leaf, shoot and root length, root dry weight as well as leaf area decreased with increasing salinity. During the seedling stage the most tolerant and sensitive populations were Zanjan and Sabzevar,respectively