Abstract:

Aims Use of saline land has become a major agricultural issue around the world. China has 27 millions kilometer saline land, and the area is increasing. Our objective was to compare the germination ability of the saline-tolerant Bromus stamineus from the USA and B. inermis cv. Xilinguole under saline conditions.
Methods We applied Na₂SO₄, NaCl and MgCl₂ at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% for salt stress treatments and recorded germination percentage, germination energy, germination index, germination value etc. We put seeds of the two plants in culture dishes covered with a filter paper and a glass bell jar with a small hole. Each culture dish was put on a beaker containing different salt solution, with gauze connecting the solution and the filter paper. The gauze extended outside the bell jar to evaporate and avoid salt accumulation on the filter paper, keeping the germination environment constant.
Important findings Germination percentage, germination index and germination value for both species declined with increased salinity, with values reduced more for B. inermis cv. Xilinguole than for B. stamineus. Times for seeds to germinate and complete their germination were prolonged under high salinity stress. NaCl had greater effects than Na₂SO₄ and MgCl₂ on both species. Overall, B. stamineus exhibited greater germination ability with salt stress than B. inermis cv. Xilinguole.

Key words: salt stress, germination, Bromus stamineus, Bromus inermis cv. Xilinguole, seed