Effects of water deficit and salinity on germination properties of Aeluropus spp.

Abstract Seed germination is an important phase of plant development during which soil water availability is crucial. Salinity can affect seed germination in two ways: 1) Change of osmotic potential of available water, 2) toxicity effects. In this experiment, interactive effects of salinity and water deficit on germination criteria of two species of A, littoralis and A. logopoides were studied in a factorial design with completely randomized arrangement and four replications. Treatments were combinations of four levels of water deficit (-0.3, -5, -10 and -15 bar), four electrical conductivity levels (0, 20, 25 and 30 dSm-1) and two species of Aeluropus. Water deficit and salinity were induced through PEG-6000 and sodium chloride respectively. After three weeks rate, as well as percentage of germination were determined. Results showed that by increasing salinity and water deficit both criteria of percent germination and germination rate were reduced and there was an interactive effect of these stresses on germination. In general effects of salinity were more pronounced than water shortage. These results were somehow similar for either one of the species. Keywords: Aeluropus; Germination; Electrical conductivity; Water deficit