A field experiment focusing on the response of Tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) to salt stress at germination and vegetative growth stages was held in the Institute of Arid Lands of Medenine, Tunisia. Results showed that germinating rate after 24 hrs exceeded 50% under salt levels between 0 and 5 g.l^-1. Indeed, salt stress levels delayed the initiation process and decreased significantly kinetics and rate of germination, which were severely limited at 9 and 10 g.l^-1 NaCl. After one month of growth, Tossa jute seedlings were subjected to salt treatments of 2, 4, 6, and 8 g.l^-1 NaCl. After four weeks of stress in pots, morphological responses were reflected by a significant decrease in parameters of growth and yield when salinity reached 8 g.l^-1. Indeed, a reduction in the photosynthetic gaseous exchange and a stomata resistance were notified for seedlings subjected to 6 and 8 g.l^-1 NaCl treatments. However, in order to tolerate the highest levels of salt, Tossa jute seedlings make different strategies by reducing the size of leaves, which increases their accumulation of osmolytes such as proline (3.1 mg.g^-1 DM) and soluble sugars (13.22 μg.g^-1 FM) to permitting the osmotic adjustment.