Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 1436-1441.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.05.26

• Plant and Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of sodium salinity stress types on the germination of Kalidium foliatum seeds and its young seedling growth

LEI Chunying1,2(),JI Xiaomin1,2,PENG Muzhi1,2,JIANG Li3()   

  1. 1. Institute of Afforestation and Sand Control, Xinjiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, Urumqi 830063, Xinjiang, China
    2. Jinghe Desert Ecosystem Research Station, Jinghe 833300, Xinjiang, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2020-12-07 Revised:2021-06-24 Online:2021-09-15 Published:2021-09-24
  • Contact: Li JIANG E-mail:ceibar@126.com;jiangli1015@126.com

Abstract:

The effects of different types of sodium salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth in the eremophyte Kalidium foliatum were studied by measuring the germination rate, germination index, bud length, and root length. In addition, the mechanism of seed germination and seedling growth when adapting to different types of saline alkali land was explored; this work provides insights into the development desert restoration and forage industry in arid areas through K. foliatum planting. Results showed that NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3 significantly inhibited the germination rate and germination index of K. foliatum. According to regression analysis, the critical values of NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3 were 325, 267, 245, and 166 mmol·L-1, respectively, whereas the limit values were 671, 580, 569, and 389 mmol·L-1, respectively. In addition, NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3 significantly inhibited the growth of K. foliatum shoots and roots. However, seed germination and seedling growth responses differed significantly according to the four sodium salt exposures. For example, the toxicity of alkaline salt was greater than that of neutral salt. In young seedlings, the shoots were more sensitive to salt exposure than were the roots. Furthermore, root length could be used as a parameter to evaluate the salt tolerance of K. foliatum. Finally, according to the degree of salt toxicity on seed germination and seedling growth, the toxicity to K. foliatum can be ranked as follows: NaCl2SO43< Na2CO3.

Key words: Kalidium foliatum, salinity stress, sodium, seed germination