INFLUENCE OF WATER STRESS AND SALINITY ON GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF THREE MEDICINAL DESRT PLANT SPECIES

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Plant Ecology and Range Management, Desert Research Center, Mataria, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

The effect of different irrigation intervals and NaCl concentrations on the seed germination and seedling growth of Asphodelus ramosus, Hyoscyamus muticus, and Lavandula pubescens were investigated under growth chamber and green house conditions. The data indicated that, the percentage of germination in L .pubescens was significantly higher than that in A. ramosus and H. muticus regardless the irrigation intervals or NaCl concentrations. Also, the irrigation interval (8 days), the control and concentration (1000 ppm) of NaCl were significantly higher than the other treatments in germination percentage regardless the species. Both irrigation intervals and NaCl concentrations caused different effects on seedling variables i.e., (height, root length, number of leaves/seedling, fresh weight, dry weight and water content of the shoots) and mortality in all the three studied species. The percentage of seedling mortality of the three studied species were increased significantly after 25 days at most of irrigation intervals under growth chamber conditions, while under green house conditions, increases significantly after 40 days after the plantation. Most seedlings of all studied species did not decline at 1000 ppm NaCl under growth chamber conditions, while under green house conditions, the mortality percentage of L . pubescens and A.  ramosus seedlingsreached up to 100% after 30 and 40 days respectively after the plantation at 2000 ppm and 3000 ppm NaCl concentration, however, this percentagewas attained after 60 days for H. muticus only at 1000 ppm NaCl cncentration.  Data recordede indicated that H. muticus significantly considered as less stress-tolerant species to drought and salinity comparing with the other studied species. These results were discussed with regard to distribution of these plants in the Egyptian deserts, also, regard to the use of these species in rehabilitation of desertified lands in Egypt.

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