Effects of temperature, light and nitrogen deposition on seed germination of Allium strictum in Xinjiang

Abstract

Nitrogen is not only an indispensable nutrient element during plant growth but also a signal for seed germination. Studies have found that seed germination percentage decreased with the increase in nitrogen deposition, but the effects of nitrogen deposition on seed germination of Allium have rarely been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of different temperatures, light and nitrogen deposition treatments on seed germination of fresh seeds of Allium strictum from Xinjiang, China. The results showed that A. strictum seeds germinated highest at 15°C and were insensitive to light. Nitrogen deposition significantly inhibited seed germination of A. strictum and negatively affected seed vigour. However, some nitrogen-inhibited seeds were able to recover and germinate when transferred to distilled water. This study provided information on conservation strategies for Allium with regard to climate change.