Evaluation of salt tolerance of Italian ryegrass at the germinating period

24 varieties seeds of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflourum) were soaked in 0, 23.4, 35.1, 46.8, 58.5 mol/L NaCl solution to evaluate their salt tolerance by measuring germination, growth, water content of leaf. The results of this study showed the relative germination percentage, relative seedling length, relative root length, relative biomass and relative water content of leaf decreased as the NaCl concentration of solution increased and indexes of the accessions in 23.4 mol/L NaCl solution were significantly higher those in 46.8 and 58.5 mol/L NaCl solution(P0.05). Effect of salt stress on parameters of L.multiflourum was in order, the relative root lengththe relative seedling lengththe relative water content of leaf. The remarkable differences in the relative root length and relative biomass under salt stress were found among 24 varieties. Comprehensive evaluation results showed that LM05, LM07，LM10, LM20 and LM23 was strong salt tolerance group and LM03, LM08, LM09 and LM16 was sensitive group to salt.