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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2017, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (6): 89-97.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2016288

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Effects of gibberellin on the germination of Reaumuria soongorica seeds under salt stress

NIU Song-Fang1,2, WANG Li-Juan1,2, LIU Bing-Ru1,2,*   

  1. 1.Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration of North-western China, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China;
    2.Key Lab for Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in North-western China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
  • Received:2016-07-18 Revised:2016-09-28 Online:2017-06-20 Published:2017-06-20

Abstract: Reaumuria soongorica, an extreme xeric shrub and a dominant species in desert and semi-desert areas, has low levels of reproductive through germination. This shrub could be an important species for vegetation restoration and the improvement of eco-environments in western China. A study has been undertaken to investigate the effect of interactions between gibberellin (GA) and different salinity conditions on seed germination in R. soongorica. Using petri dish techniques, the treatments studied were germination under H2O (control), various concentrations of NaCl to explore saline stress (100, 200, 400, 600 mg/L; treated group 1), a range of GA concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mmol/L, treated group 2) and their combined interaction (treated group 3). The results showed that seed germination percentages continuously decreased with increasing salinity, while germination uniformity increased with rising salt levels. With increasing NaCl concentrations, the length of the R. soongorica’s radicle and germ gradually decreased, and radicle length significantly decreased (R2=0.9452). With increasing concentrations of GA, germination percentage, the germination index and germination speed all at first decreased and then increased, with a threshold reached at 200 mg/L. With NaCl concentrations of more than 50 mmol/L, germination energy gradually decreased with increasing GA applications. There were no significant differences between the length of R. soongorica’s radicle and germ under different concentrations of GA. This research shows that while salt stress inhibits seed germination, GA enhances the germination percentage and index under highly salt-stressed conditions (more than 100 mmol/L). GA applications could thus be used to promote the establishment and growth of R. soongorica in desert and semi-desert regions.