Inter-provenance variation in seed germination response of a cash crop halophyte Suaeda fruticosa to different abiotic factors

Abstract

Information about provenance-based differences in seed attributes of potential cash crop halophytes is limited but important to define sources for the highest quality seeds. This study examined inter- provenance variations in seed morphology, germination, and tolerance responses of Suaeda fruticosa to common abiotic factors. Seed size varied significantly among provenances, and the largest sized seeds were developed in the highly moist moderately-saline coastal area of Manora. Seed germination responses also varied among provenances and seeds from highly moist provenance of Manora showed the highest germination in 400 mM NaCl in light under low to moderate temperature regimes. The light requirement for germination was lowest in the seeds from highly saline provenance of Gaddani. The highest germination recovery of un-germinated seeds from the high salinity (600 mM NaCl) was for seeds from dry provenance of Bahawalpur irrespective of temperature regime. Recovery for seeds from the (moderately) moist (highly) saline provenances of Gaddani and Hawke's Bay was highly temperature-dependent. However, recovery of dark-incubated un-germinated seeds after transfer to light was salinity-dependent, but not dependent on provenance. Thus, these data indicate that provenance can affect the size, germinability, and stress tolerance of S. fruticosa seeds. Generally, seeds from less stressful provenance of Manora had better quality, i.e., larger size, higher germination, and qualify for mass-scale cultivation / restoration programs under most environmental conditions.