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EFFECTS OF SALT AND WATER STRESS ON THE GERMINATION OF CHENOPODIUM GLAUCUM L., SEED

DEYU DUAN, XIAOJING LIU, M. AJMAL KHAN¹ AND BILQUEES GUL¹

Abstract: Effect of salts (Na₂SO₄, Na₂CO₃, MgSO₄, NaCl, MgCl₂), soil extract and polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) on the germination of Chenopodium glaucum L., seed was studied. Maximum germination was obtained in distilled water. Germination decreased with increase in salinity. The inhibition of germination by salt solutions was in the order of MgCl₂ > Na₂SO₄ > Na₂CO₃ > NaCl > Soil extract > MgSO₄. Germination also decreased with decrease in osmotic potential caused by PEG treatment. Seed germination percentage was lower in NaCl than in iso-osmotic PEG solutions at osmotic potential less than -0.5 MPa. Non-germinated seeds under various salt treatments when transferred to distilled water recovered completely, indicating little ionic effect of salinity on seed germination and viability. Germination inhibition, therefore, appears to be osmotic. Similar recovery response was noted when seeds from PEG solution were transferred to water.
 

Shijiazhuang Institute of Agricultural Modernization,CAS, Shijiazhuang 050021, P. R. China.
Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.