Germination of the Salt-Tolerant Grass Diplachne fusca. II. Salinity Responses

Abstract

The responses -of germination of the salt-tolerant grass Diplachne fusca (L.) Beauv. to salinity and various temperature regimes are described. At temperatures of 30/20°C (12 h light and dark periods), final germination was 70% in distilled water, decreased to 50% in 175 mol m^-3 NaCl (π = - 0.8 MPa) and 7% in 380 mol m^-3 NaCl (π = -1.8 MPa). Increasing salinity from 0-130mol m^-3 NaCl decreased the final germination percentage, but did not modify the threshold temperatures (day or night temperature > 27°C) at which germination occurred. Presoaking in distilled water or 1% CaCl₂· 2H₂0 solution did not significantly affect the final germination percentage of seeds which were subsequently placed in solutions with a range of salinities from 0-210 mol m^-3 NaCl (*#960 = 0 to - 1.0 MPa). How- ever, addition of CaCl₂ to NaCl solution increased the final germination percentage compared with that in pure NaCl solution. Presoaking in concentrated (400 mol m^-3) NaCl solution caused a decrease in subsequent germinability of 20 or 40% in 0 and 40 mol m^-3 NaCl, respectively. Under field conditions (in soil with mean daily maximum temperature of 33°C and mean daily minimum temperature of 15°C), rates of seedling establishment were similar (16% of seed sown) in soils irrigated with 0 or 50 mol m^-3 NaCl, and were 1% in those irrigated with 100 mol m^-3 NaCl.

The inhibition of germination in NaCl solution was largely an osmotic effect since there was a similar reduction in the final germination percentage in iso-osmotic solutions of NaCl and mannitol. However, the proportion of seeds germinating in NaCl solution was enhanced by adding calcium. The inhibition of germination was greater in sulfate solutions compared with that in chloride solutions and, to a lesser degree, in potassium compared with sodium solutions.

The practical implications of our results are discussed. The incorporation of gypsum into the soil and measures to leach salts from the topsoil are recommended before D. fusca is sown on saline land.