PJB-2015-89
EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND GAS EXCHANGE RESPONSE OF ACACIA EHRENBERGIANA HAYNE SEEDLINGS TO VARIATIONS IN SEED MASS
HASHIM EL ATTA*, IBRAHIM AREF AND ABDALLA AHMED
Abstract
The effect of seed mass of Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne on seedling growth and gas exchange activity under glass house conditions was investigated. Seeds were collected from three locations (Al Madinah (24°89´N, 39°16´E), Aseer (17°55´N, 42°11´E) and Baha (19°13´N, 41°80´E) in Saudi Arabia. The seeds were categorized into large, medium and small on the basis of the seed mass. Seeds were sown in potted soil (sand, clay and peat moss, 2:2:1 v/v) for six months. Seedling growth parameters and gas exchange were measured. Seedlings emerged from large seeds exhibited significantly faster growth in terms of shoot and root length and more dry weight, higher RGR (relative growth rate) and greater net photosynthetic and transpiration rates and stomatal conductance than those emerged from medium and small seeds. Leaf number also increased with seed mass but inconsistently.
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