Effect of salt and drought simulated by PEG on seed germination and seedling growth of Agriophyllum squarrosum
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DOI:10.7606/j.issn.1000-7601.2012.04.20
Key Words: Agriophyllum squarrosum  seed germination  seedling growth  salt stress  PEG
Author NameAffiliation
CHEN Wen Department of Tourism Management, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, Guangdong 521041, China 
MA Ruijun Department of Biology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, Guangdong 521041, China 
WANG Juhong Department of Biology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, Guangdong 521041, China
Key Laboratory of Resources Utilization of Gansu Universities, Zhangye, Gansu 734000 China 
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Abstract:
      Seed germination and seedling growth of Agriophyllum squarrosum following different concentration of the NaCl, MgSO4 and saline soil solution and that of the PEG-6000 solution were studied, and the restoration germination of seeds was observed. The results showed that water uptake rate of seed increased first and then decreased, and germination percentage decreased with increasing NaCl, MgSO4 and PEG concentration, whereas there was insignificant effect of saline soil solution on germination percentage. The stress effects of salt on seed germination and seedling growth were NaCl>MgSO4>saline soil solution. Seed germination and seedling growth of Agriophyllum squarrosum were sensitiv e to NaCl stress, in which the lowest permeability threshold was 18 g/kg; seed germination could tolerate stress of higher concentration of saline soil solution. In addition, with increasing of PEG concentration, the germination percentage decreased insignificantly, and seedling growth was restricted, in which the lowest permeability threshold was -0.94 MPa. After removing the stress of salts and PEG, seeds displayed higher germination percentage, indicating that there was osmotic regulation during seed germination to adapt saline and drought habitats. The results imply that Agriophyllum squarrosum can survive in mild saline soil habitat, however, high degree of saline or extreme drought will inhibit seed germination and seedling establishment. We suggest that breaking seed dormancy, keeping soil moisture and low salinity, and sand burial (dark condition) cultivation are the key to guarantee the survival of Agriophyllum squarrosum.