PJB-2018-5
MECHANISMS OF CALCIUM’S EFFECTS ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH IN THE FORAGE PLANT MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS (FABACEAE) UNDER SALINITY STRESS
DA WEI ZHANG
Abstract
Melilotus officinalis (Fabaceae) is an important forage plant that has high contents of both protein and digestible fiber. In the present study, the effects of calcium chloride (0, 10, 20 mM Ca2+) on the response of M. officinalis to various levels of NaCl stress (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM Na+) were investigated. Seed germination and seedling growth characteristic were surveyed. The results showed that the seed germination was 66.67% when the salinity was no more than 150 mM. The salt tolerance of the seedlings was higher than that at germination. The optimal 10 mM Ca2+ concentration could protect M. officinalis against salt stress, especially for the germination and the recovery germination under the high salt concentrations. 10mM Ca2+ significantly enhanced the water content of the early seedlings and Ca2+ had a beneficial visual effect on early-stage seedlings of M. officinalis. The addition of 10mM Ca2+ significantly increased the relative growth rate, biomass, and water content of underground as well as resource allocation of aboveground during the seedling growth. The promotion of 10mM Ca2+ for seedling growth was higher than that of 20mM Ca2+. 20 mM Ca2+ combined with high salt concentration may impose stress on the plant. It is proposed that the optimal 10 mM Ca2+ concentration should contribute to seedling establishment during germination and seedling growth stages. Therefore, the appropriate exogenous calcium could effectively improve the salt tolerance for the plant. It is of great significance that calcium fertilizer be applied reasonably for the forage production and improving of saline-alkali soil in the practice.
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