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Effect of maternal habitat, temperature and light on germination and salt tolerance of Suaeda vermiculata, a habitat-indifferent halophyte of arid Arabian deserts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2018

Ali El-Keblawy*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Permanent address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Arish University, Egypt
Naeema Al-Shamsi
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates Departmento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de Málaga, PO Box 59, 29080, Málaga, Spain
Kareem Mosa
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
*
Author for correspondence: Ali El-Keblawy, Email: akeblawy@sharjah.ac.ae; akeblawy@gmail.com

Abstract

Habitat-indifferent species that can grow well in both saline and non-saline soils offer a good opportunity for studying seed dormancy and salt tolerance during germination. Here, we assess interactive effects of maternal habitat and incubation conditions on salt tolerance during germination of the habitat-indifferent halophyte Suaeda vermiculata, a common perennial shrub of the arid Arabian deserts. Seeds collected from saline and non-saline habitats were germinated at six salinity levels (0–500 mM NaCl) and incubated at three temperatures and under two light regimes. Studied germination attributes were final germination, germination rate index (GRI) and germination recovery of non-germinated seeds when transferred to distilled water. The results showed insignificant difference in salt tolerance between seeds of the two habitat types at the lower salinities. At higher salinities (400 and 500 mM NaCl), germination of the saline habitat seeds was almost inhibited, but that of non-saline habitat seeds reached various levels depending on light and temperature. Both higher temperatures and darkness resulted in significant reductions of the final germination at the higher salinities. Seeds of the two habitats that did not germinate in the different treatments recovered their germination when transferred to distilled water, indicating that these seeds maintained their viability in saline solution and were able germinate upon the arrival of suitable conditions. Seeds of the two habitats germinated within 2 days at the lower salinities and GRI decreased with the increase in salinity level. Such reduction was obvious for seeds of the saline habitat. Recovery was faster for seeds of the saline habitats, especially for those incubated at higher salinities and in the dark. The difference in dormancy and germination attributes of seeds of the two habitat types reflects ecological adaptations for survival in salt marshes of arid deserts.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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