›› 2012, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (5): 797-801.

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Effect of Super Absorbent Polymer on Seed Germination and Seedling Roots of Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum

 LI  Xing1,2, JIANG  Jin1, SONG  Chun-Wu1, WEI  Zhen-Jiang3, YIN  Wen-Juan3   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China;
    2. Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    3. College of Forestry and Horticulture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
  • Received:2011-10-23 Revised:2011-11-07 Online:2012-09-15 Published:2012-10-09

Abstract: Effect of super absorbent polymer (SAP) on the seed germination and seedling root morphology of Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum  was investigated based on a pot experiment. The results showed that, compared with the contrast, the seed germination rates of H. ammodendron and H. persicum were increased by 18.7% and 24.0% respectively when SAP concentration was 0.05%. Vertical growth of seedling roots of H. ammodendron  was inhibited, while the growth and biomass accumulation of lateral roots were promoted when SAP concentration was 0.05%. Root length, lateral root number and root biomass of H. persicum all reached their maximum values at 0.1% SAP concentration. Seed germination and seedling root growth were all inhibited when SAP concentration was 0.2%. It was concluded that the perfect SAP concentration for H. ammodendron growth was 0.05%,and the best effect of SAP concentration for H. persicum varied in a range of 0.05%-0.1%.

Key words: Haloxylon ammodendron, H. persicum, super absorbent polymer (SAP), seed germination, seedling, root, Gurbantunggut Desert