Abstract: In this study,the effects of different stress conditions,e.g.,salt (NaCl),drought (PEG 6000) or salt coupled with drought,on seed germination (SG) and seedling growth (SGr) of Salsola ferganica were researched.Results showed that:① SG of S.ferganica could tolerate relatively high NaCl and PEG concentrations.There was no effect of low NaCl and PEG concentrations on SG;at higher concentration,however,SG was significantly decreased but its percentage still exceeded 35%,which suggested that S.ferganica was salt- or drought-tolerant.Under salt stress coupled with drought stress,the inhibition of seed germination was significantly relieved by increasing the PEG concentration under the low and medium concentration of NaCl.② Under NaCl stress,the recovery rate of winged perianth (WWP) seeds was increased with increasing NaCl concentration,while that of dewing perianth (NWP) seeds was remained at low level.With increasing the PEG concentration,however,the recovery rates of both WWP and NWP seeds were significantly decreased.The recovery of germination of WWP and NWP seeds under salt coupled with drought stress was similar as that under NaCl stress.③ The effect of NaCl or PEG treatment on the growth of the seedlings from NWP seeds of S.ferganica was stronger than that from WWP seeds.With increasing the NaCl or PEG concentration,the growth of plant height and root length of seedlings from WWP and NWP were inhibited.The growth of S.ferganica seedlings Under salt stress coupled with drought stress,the effect of low NaCl concentration on the growth of the WWP seedlings was less than that of NWP seeds (except for 100 mmol·L^-1NaCl+25 g·L^-1PEG).The effect of NaCl concentration on the seedlings of NWP seeds was stronger than that of WWP seeds.With increasing the PEG concentration at high NaCl level,the growth of plant height and root length of seedlings from WWP and NWP were inhibited.In conclusion,S.ferganica was much more tolerant to salt and drought in seed germination and seedling growth.Salt stress coupled with drought stress could relieve salt ion toxicity to some extent,which has important ecological significance for S.ferganica to survive the early harsh environment.Moreover,the fruit wing plays an important role in puting the seed to dormancy under stress and then replenishing the soil seed bank.

Key words: Salsola ferganica, seed germination, osmotic stress, ion toxicity, winged perianth seed, Gurbantunggut Desert