Action of plant growth regulators and salinity on seed germination of Ceratoides lanata

Abstract

Ceratoides lanata (Pursh) J.T. Howell is a shrub with numerous annual branchlets from the family Chenopodiaceae and is widely distributed in brackish water playas of northern Utah. Seeds had no dormancy, and about 90% of the seeds germinated in nonsaline control. Seed germination decreased with the increase in salinity, and more than 10% of the seeds germinated at 900 mmol/L NaCl. Almost all seeds germinated in less than 24 h, and no additional seed germinated after this time. Gibberellic acid had no effect in alleviating salinity effects; however, kinetin and fusicoccin substantially alleviated the effect of salinity on germination, while ethephon almost completely reverted the effect of salinity.Key words: Ceratoides lanata, gibberellic acid, ethephon, fusicoccin, halophytes, kinetin.