Effects of Sodium Chloride and Sodium Sulfate on Haloxylon ammodendron Seed Germination

Zhazira Zhumabekova,Alzhan Kurmangozhinov,Dani Sarsekova,Yongdong Wang,Chunwu Song,Xinwen Xu

doi:10.3390/su12124927

Abstract

Haloxylon ammodendron is a perennial xerophyte that can survive in extremely harsh desert conditions of Central Asia. This study evaluated the effect of salinity, and their ability to recover on seed germination of H. ammodendron, which were collected at three different desert areas, Bakanas takyr plain (H1), Gurbantüngüt Desert (H2), and Gobi Desert (H3), respectively. Seeds were treated with different concentrations of NaCl and Na2SO4 (0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, 1.20, and 1.40 mol/L) to detemine the germination and recover ability to salt stress. The results of the study were that H. ammodendron were more resistant to Na2SO4 than to NaCl. Regarding inhibition of seed germination H. ammodendron was in the following order: H3 > H2 > H1. Based on the tolerance and recovery, seeds can be demonstrated as follows: NaCl: H3 > H1 > H2; Na2SO4: H1 = H2 = H3. Non-germinated seeds in all salt treatments with low osmotic potential showed high recovery when transferred to distilled water, indicating that these treatments were not too toxic to affect seed viability. These results suggest that H. ammodendron can withstand high levels of salinity at three desert environments. Thus, H. ammodendron could be used to reconstruct vegetation and sustanbility development in the desert areas with high salinity.

Highlights

Soil salinization has become a worldwide resource and ecological problem, which seriously affects agricultural and forestry production and ecological reconstruction and restoration in desert areas [1]
Saline soil is produced of the growth of multiple chloride and sulfate salt subjected by NaCl and Na2SO4 salts [23], high concentrations of NaCl [24] and Na2SO4 [25] in the soil leads to the swelling of plants
We examined the germination of H. ammodendron seeds collected from the Bakanas takyr plain, Gurbantünggüt Desert, and Gobi Desert

Summary

Introduction

Soil salinization has become a worldwide resource and ecological problem, which seriously affects agricultural and forestry production and ecological reconstruction and restoration in desert areas [1]. In this case, investigation of H. ammodendron seed germination is of great importance for the restoration and reconstruction of this species in desert areas. Investigation of H. ammodendron seed germination is of great importance for the restoration and reconstruction of this species in desert areas Given their morphological and physiological characteristics, xerophytes can tolerate long-term and severe water shortages [7]. H. ammodendron, as a Xerophyte, employs a special adaptation mechanism to survive under harsh desert conditions [7,8] It can promote water conservation, prevent soil erosion, and has a high economic value [9]. Very few comprehensive comparative analyses have been conducted to study seed germination in H. ammodendron from different desert areas

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Discussion

Conclusion