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ALLEVIATION OF SALINITY-ENFORCED SEED DORMANCY IN ATRIPLEX PROSTRATA

M. AJMAL KHAN* , IRWIN A. UNGAR** AND BILQUEES GUL

Abstract: Atriplex prostrata (Chenopodiaceae) is a salt tolerant plant species that is widely distributed in inland and coastal salt marshes of the United States and Europe. Atriplex prostrata (Chenopodiaceae) seed germination decreased with an increase in salinity and few seeds germinated at 300 mM NaCl. Fusicoccin (5 mM), ethephon (10 mM), and nitrogenous compounds (nitrate 20 mM and thiourea 10 mM) were able to counteract the inhibition produced by salinity treatments. Thiourea was most effective in reversing the inhibitory effects of salinity on the germination of A. prostrata seeds.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author: 92-21-9243976, Email: ajmal@halophyte.org
Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701-2979, USA.