An Evaluation of Germination Media for Turfgrass Salinity Studies

Abstract

Abstract A technique using salinized agar as a germination medium in sealed, plastic petri dishes is described. Agar concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% solidified with up to 35,000 mg·liter−1 of total salts derived from a formula for full-strength seawater. Water loss from petri dishes sealed with a plastic film after 28 days averaged 1.7% and was negligible. Saline-agar media held more moisture initially and lost less water than standard, double germination blotters after 7 days. Germination of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ‘Derby’) on unsalinized agar was not different from germination on unsalinized blotters. Total germination of ‘Derby’ perennial ryegrass averaged 94% and was unaffected by salt concentrations up to 5000 mg·liter−1 but germination rate (days to 50% germination) was progressively delayed from 3.98 ± 0.09 days for the controls having no salinity to 5.15 ± 0.33 days at 5000 mg∙liter−1 of salinity.