Investigation on the effect of salinity stress on seed germination of Salsola abarghuensis, Salsola arbuscula and Salsola yazdiana

Mosleh-arani, Asghar; Bakhshi-khaniki, Gholam-reza; Nemati, Najmeh; Soltani, Mahdi

Investigation on the effect of salinity stress on seed germination of Salsola abarghuensis, Salsola arbuscula and Salsola yazdiana

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

The effects of salinity stress were investigated on germination components of Salsola abarghuensis, S. arbuscula and S. yazdiana. The experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design with 5 replicates and 6 salinity levels of 0, 200, 300, 500, 800 mM/L NaCl and NaCl + Na₂SO₄ (in 70% and 30% ratios). Results showed that germination rate and germination percentage decreased in all the species with increasing salinity concentration (in both salt treatments). For all the species the highest germination percentage was observed on control and 200 mM and the lowest was observed on 800 mM NaCl +Na₂SO₄. The effects of salinity on root and shoot length were the same as their effects on seed germination. Compared to the other species, S. abarghuensis showed the highest germination on control and 200 mM (94 and 89 percent) and the lowest rate was observed on S. yazdiana (52.4 and 48.5 percent). In turn, S. arbuscula showed the highest germination on 800 mM of the two salt treatments. Chemical analysis of shoots in three mature species showed that S. abarghuensis accumulated the highest amounts of potassium and sodium. The relationship between ion accumulation in plants and soil with salinity resistance is discussed.

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