INTRODUCTION The Zingiberaceae family consists of many species with several useful properties. These species are named important after understanding their medicinal and therapeutic properties. They are used in many industries to make useful products and are well-known in the beauty world (Chakraborty et al., 2019). Out of all the available species in this family, turmeric and ginger are known to play major roles in promoting several health benefits and therapeutic properties (Zhang and Kitts 2021). Compared to ginger, turmeric is used in almost all the dishes and considered to be medicinal which can be taken raw in a powder form or added in the curries (Edwards et al., 2020). Turmeric is commonly known as an herbaceous medicinal plant with anti-cancerous, anti- diabetic properties. Apart from these, this plant helps in the efficient functioning of the immune system and promotes anti-inflammatory properties (Scott et al., 2020). Along with this, curcuminoids present in these plants helps in curing many neurological disorders and cancerous properties. It is observed that, the daily intake of one table spoon of the turmeric powder is advisable for proper functioning of human body. India is considered as the top most producer and exporter of turmeric powder with high curcuminoid value to many countries like USA, UK, Japan and Russia. The turmeric powder is considered very auspicious and used for many rituals and ceremonies as well (Alizedeh et al., 2019). Also, the turmeric powder adds aroma, taste and spice to the dishes due to which almost all the dishes prepared across the globe uses a pinch of this powder (Cowell et al., 2017). All Indian delicacies need turmeric powder to improve the color and aroma of the dish. India is also known for its diverse turmeric germplasms with maximum benefits some tolerant to biotic stresses, other towards abiotic stresses and certain species tolerant to the changes in the environment (Akter et al., 2019). Almost 40 species are recorded in each area of South East Asia with India being the topmost producer of turmeric whose genetic nature is triploid (2n= 3x= 63) (Verma et al., 2018). Although there are many advantages with this crop, few disadvantages are noticed with respect to their resistance against abiotic stresses (Forsyth et al., 2019). Almost all the cultivars of turmeric are resistant to abiotic stresses up to certain level but, few varieties are susceptible with maximum yield losses ((Meng et al., 2018). The important stress observed these days is salinity stress which causes a serious havoc to the growing crops by arresting their growth with many symptoms ultimately leading to the death of these crops under maximum salt concentrations (Wang et al., 2021). Recent studies revealed that, the salinity stress has maximum influence on the growth and development of the turmeric cultivars especially effecting the morphological parameters which in turn effects the growth and development of the underground rhizomes (Smith et al., 2019). Not many experiments are conducted regarding salinity stress in turmeric cultivars also, not many cultivars are included in the studies so far (White et al., 2019). This can be due to the long-life cycle of the crop and improper adaptability of the turmeric crops to the surrounding environmental conditions. To understand the effect of salinity in the growing turmeric cultivars, five turmeric cultivars belonging to UP are selected and the growth conditions are observed three months after the salinity treatment (Sanidad et al., 2019). Therefore, our study is aimed to understand the growth of the turmeric cultivars imposed by salinity stress in two treatments i.e., 50mM concentration and 100mM concentrations along with their controls for comparison. Different morphological parameters are checked in the plants, three months after the salinity treatment i.e., 140 days after sowing and 90 days after salt treatment. The observations are recorded in order to observe the fluctuations in the growth of the turmeric cultivars because, the increase in the foliage aids in the growth of the underground rhizomes which is the major economical part of the turmeric crop. MATERIAL AND METHODS Five turmeric cultivars were selected form the Horticulture Research Center, Dept. of Horticulture, SVPUA&T, Meerut. These cultivars were developed and thoroughly checked for their characters in UP, these cultivars include Vallabh Sharad, New Selection 1, Vallabh Priya, Azad and New Selection 2. The experiment was conducted in pot culture which was maintained under lab conditions in the Dept. of Ag. Biotechnology, SVPUA&T, Meerut. Different growth parameters were examined up to certain growth period of the turmeric cultivars i.e., 140 days after sowing and 90 days after the salt treatment. The values observed and recorded were analyzed using FCRD (Factorial Completely randomized Design) method using R-software along with the DMRT (Duncan Multiple Range Test) which was indicated by alphabets to identify the treatments and cultivars that were on-par with each other and that show significant variations among them (Dafaallah et al., 2019). In this experiment, a total of five cultivars with three replications each including control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations were sown at the same time in pot culture. The salt stress was given to the plant 45 days after sowing and allowed to absorb maximum salt water to impose severe stress conditions. 90 days after the treatment the plants were observed for certain morphological parameters like plant height, longest leaf length, longest leaf width, number of leaves and number of tillers in control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations respectively. All the details and their means were recorded carefully to observe the highest and the least responsive cultivars towards salinity stress conditions. Along with this the mean values, standard deviation, standard error and CV was also determined using the R- software. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Different morphological parameters suitable for that particular growth period were recorded carefully in order to observe the maximum tolerant cultivars to the least tolerant cultivar in the selected turmeric germplasms for the experiment. All the turmeric cultivars selected for salinity treatment were observed for the changes in their morphological parameters in this stage (three months after salinity treatment) (Fig. 1). Although in previous stages it was observed that Vallabh Sharad gave maximum followed by new Selection1 compared to all the other varieties under salt stress conditions. Therefore, in this stage it was observed that Vallabh Sharad gave maximum plant height compared to other cultivars i.e., 24.5±0.177, 22.5±0.077 and 22.3±0.248 for control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations. Also, New Selction1 gave positive results little lesser than that of Vallabh Sharad i.e., 23.7±0.321, 19.8±0.883 and 20.1±0.561 for control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations respectively. Not only this but for longest leaf length Vallabh Sharda gave maximum growth followed by New Selction1 i.e., 12.6±0.27, 11.9±0.27 and 12.1±27 foe control, 50mM and 100mM respectively for Vallabh Sharad and 11.4±0.07, 11.3±0.07 and 11.5±0.115 for control, 50mM and 100mM treatments for New Selection1. Also, Vallabh Sharad gave maximum growth for longest leaf width i.e., 4.6±0.314, 4.3±0.327 and 4.6±0.127 for control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations followed by 4.1±0.075, 4.2◦±0.073 and 4.4±0.053 for New Selection 1 for same treatments. Not only this the total number of leaves and tillers were maximum for Vallabh Sharad i.e., 8±0.043, 7±0.01 and 7±0.042 for total leaves and 5±0.094, 4±0.024 and 3±0.347 for number of tillers under control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations, followed by New Selection1 i.e., 6±0.121, 7±0.118 and 7±0.073 for total leaves and 5±0.062, 4±0.048 and 4±0.023 for tillers under control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations respectively (Table 1). Therefore, the individual parameters were observed for growth under salt stress conditions in this stage. Plant Height: The maximum plant height was observed in Vallabh Sharad i.e., 24.5, 22.5 and 22.3 for control, 50mM and 100mM followed by New Selection1 i.e., 23.7, 19.8 and 20.10 for control, 50mM and 100mM conditions. Therefore, it was clear that these two cultivars gave maximum increase in their plant height compared to other cultivars even under salt stress condition in this stage (Fig. 2). It was observed that the plant height in Vallabh Sharad and New selection1 increased in comparison to the previous stages by 1 – 1.5 cms each, whereas in other cultivars there is not much increase in the plant height i.e., hardly found to be in millimeters (Mohan et al., 2017). Also, in case of DMRT for the treatments it was observed that the 50mM and 100mM were on-par with each compared to control which was expected to be showing significant variation with these two treatments. Whereas, in case of the cultivars, Vallabh Sharad and New Selection 1 i.e., 23.10 and 21.20 respectively, showed significant variations compared to Vallabh Priya, Azad and New Selection 2 with their mean values 17.77, 17.07 and 17.10 respectively, so referred to be on-par with each other. Along with this the CV value of 4.69 indicates that there is significance in the treatment (Table 2). Longest Leaf length: The longest leaf length was maximum observed in Vallabh Sharad i.e., 12.6, 11.9 and 12.1 respectively in control, 50mM and 100mM which was followed by New Selection1 i.e., 11.4,11.3 and 11.5 for New Selection1 respectively in all the treatments. These two varieties gave maximum longest leaf length compared to previous stages (Fig. 3). Also, rest of the cultivars showed little increase in the longest leaf length compared to Vallabh Sharad and New Selection1. It was observed that the other cultivars did not increase much in this stage compared to previous stages (Chander et al., 2016). Also, in case of DMRT the mean values in case of treatments and cultivars were observed to show significant difference with each other and no any related values with each other. In case of treatments, it was observed that all the treatments were significantly different with each other i.e., 10.44, 9.72 and 9.38 for control, 50mM and 100mM even in case of the cultivars significant difference was observed with each other i.e., 12.2, 11.4, 9.0, 8.6 and 8.1 respectively for each of the cultivar (Table 3). Also, the CV value of 2.75 indicates the significance of the treatment. Longest leaf width: The longest leaf width was maximum in case of Vallabh Sharad i.e., 4.60, 4.30 and 4.60 respectively for control, 50mM and 100mM followed by new Selection1 i.e., 4.10, 4.20 and 4.40 respectively for control, 50mM and 100mM (Kadam et al., 2020). The other cultivars were known to show less leaf width compared to these two cultivars (Fig. 4). In case of DMRT, it was observed that there was significant variation in all the treatments and cultivars as well. In case of treatments 50mM and 100mM i.e., 3.82 and 3.92 were on-par with each other compared to control i.e., 3.48 as it is showing significant variation compared to other treatments. Also, in cultivars Vallabh Priya and Azad were on-par with each other i.e., 3.47 and 3.40 compared to other cultivars which were showing significant variations among them i.e., 4.5, 4.23 and 3.10 for Vallabh Sharad, New Selection 1 and New Selection 2 (Table 4). Also, the CV value of 4.55 indicates that there is significance in the treatment. Number of leaves: It was observed that the maximum number of leaves were observed in case of Vallabh Sharad i.e., 8, 7 and 7 respectively in all the treatments followed by New Selction1 i.e., 6, 7 and 7 respectively for control, 50mM and 100mM (Kumar et al., 2018). These two cultivars gave maximum number of leaves compared to other cultivars in this stage (Fig. 5). In case of DMRT, it was observed that control and 50mM i.e., 5.40 and 5.60 respectively were on-par with each other compared to 100mM i.e., 5.0 which was showing significant variation with the other treatments. Also, in case of cultivars Azad and New Slection2 were observed to be on-par with each compared to other cultivars i.e., 3.67 and 3.67 respectively followed by Vallabh Sharad, New Selection 1 and Vallabh Priya i.e., 7.33, 6.67 and 5.33 respectively (Table 5). Also, the CV value of 5.55 indicates maximum significance in the treatment. Number of tillers: Cultivars Vallabh Sharad and New Selection1 gave maximum number of tillers in this stage compared to other cultivars with their mean values 5, 4 and 4 respectively for both the cultivars in control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations (Fig. 6) (Mane et al., 2018). In case of DMRT, all the treatments showed significant variations among them i.e., 4.4, 3.4 and 3.2 respectively for control, 50mM and 100mM concentrations. Also, in case of cultivars, Vallabh Sharad and New Selection1 were on-par with each other with mean values 4.3 and 4.3 respectively, followed by Vallabh Priya and Azad i.e., 3.3 and 3.3 respectively whereas, New Selction2 showed significant variation compared to the other cultivars i.e., 3.0. Along with this, the CV value of 4.68 indicates that the treatment is significant (Table 6). Therefore, in our study with respect to morphological parameters in this stage suggests that there is significant reduction of certain parameters like plant height and longest leaf length where control is maximum compared to the treatments but under such conditions, 100mM concentrations gave better results compared to 50mM concentrations for these two parameters in this stage for Vallabh Sharad followed by New Selection 1 compared to other cultivars, with differences in their mean values indicated by using DMRT. Also, in case of longest leaf width 100mM was observed to show maximum increase compared to controls in each of the cultivar and was recorded maximum in case of Vallabh Sharad followed by New Selection1 in this stage followed by the observations of their means recorded using DMRT. Finally in this stage, it was observed that the total number of leaves and tillers were maximum in case of controls, and reduced in 50mM and 100mM in all the cultivars but maximum number of leaves and tillers were recorded in Vallabh Sharad and New Selection1. Therefore, our study indicates that Vallabh Sharad followed by New Selection1 gave maximum plant height in controls and treatments.