Effects of different salts on the germination and early seedling growth of Atriplex cordobensis Gandoger et Stuckert (Chenopodiaceae)

摘要

The effect of different salts on the germination and early seedling growth of Atriplex cordobensis was investigated. Seeds were germinated at 20 degrees C in solutions containing NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4 and K2SO4 at concentrations corresponding to osmotic potentials equal to 0.0 (control): -0.4: -0.8: -1.2 and -1.5 MPa. Germination recovery under optimum conditions after exposure to salinity was also studied. A cordobensis was tolerant to saline conditions depending on salt type. When the primary source of salt was NaCl and osmotic potentials were lower than -0.8, MPa, reduced germination was because of reduced Water uptake. The presence of Na2SO4, K2SO4 and KCl at concentrations which induced osmotic potentials below -0.8 MPa. impaired germination performance because of toxic effects.