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Alleviation of salinity effects by sodium hypochlorite on seed germination of Limonium stocksii

M. Ajmal Khan and Sabahat Zia

Abstract: This research presents the role of Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in alleviation of salinity effects on the germination of Limonium stocksii seeds. Seeds were either pre-treated with Sodium hypochlorite or it was added to a medium with and without salinity (0-400 mM NaCl) at various temperature regimes (10-20, 15-25, 20-30 and 25-35 °C). The application of Sodium hypochlorite was found to be beneficial to seed germination under saline conditions. Pretreatment for one minute in a 10 % Sodium hypochlorite solution appeared to be the most effective treatment in alleviating salinity-induced dormancy. Sodium hypochlorite alleviated salinity effects more under lower temperature regimes on the seed germination indicating the ability of Sodium chloride was progressively reduced with increase in temperature.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan