The Effect of drought and salinity stresses on seed germination of Alyssum hamalocarpum in Iran’s arid lands

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of two abiotic stresses including salinity and drought on seed germination characteristics of Allyssum hamalocarpum in vitro. The experiment was designed as factorial completely randomized with four replications. Treatment included five levels of drought i.e. 0, – 0.19, – 0.25, – 0.41 and – 0.99 Mpa and five levels of salinity including 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mmol/L NaCl. Polyethylene glycol and NaCl were used to create various levels of drought and salinity stresses, respectively. Data were analyzed with One-way ANOVA and means with significant difference were separated with Duncan test at %95 confidence level. Seed germination characteristics of A. hamalocarpum were affected (P<0.05) by various levels of drought and salinity stresses. Germination percentage and rate, radicle length, plumule length, radicle and plumule dry matter mass were decreased (P<0.05) as stresses increased. A. hamalocarpum seeds tolerated drought level up to – 0.25 Mpa. However, germination percentage and rate reduced at drought level greater than –0.25 Mpa. It was concluded that seed germination characteristics of A. hamalocarpum can be more affected by salinity stress than drought stress. This indicates that A. hamalocarpum is more sensitive to salinity stress than drought stress.