Impact of dormancy regulating chemicals on salinity induced dormancy in Lasiurus scindicus and Panicum turgidum: Two desert glycophytic grasses

Ali El-Keblawy, Fatima Al-Ansari, Naeema Al-Shamsi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The indigenous forage grasses Lasiurus scindicus and Panicum turgidum are candidate species for the restoration of degraded desert rangelands. The impact of five dormancy regulating chemicals on overcoming salinity-induced germination inhibition was assessed under the best germination conditions in the two species. Seeds were germinated in a series of NaCl concentrations: 0-200 mM NaCl for P. turgidum, and 0-300 mM NaCl for L. scindicus. Lasiurus scindicus seeds were more tolerant to salinity than those of P. turgidum. Twenty percent of P. turgidum seeds germinated in 100 mM NaCl and none in the higher levels, but 47.5% and 8.8% of L. scindicus seeds germinated in 100 and 200 mM NaCl, respectively. The five studied chemicals (fusicoccin, GA3, kinetin, nitrate and thiourea) did not succeed in improving germination of non-saline treated seeds of the two species, compared to the control, except thiourea in P. turgidum. The salinity-induced germination inhibition in P. turgidum was completely alleviated by the application of gibberellic acid (GA3), partially alleviated by the application of fusicoccin, kinetin and thiourea, but not affected by nitrate. In L. scindicus, the germination inhibition was completely alleviated by fusicoccin, GA3, nitrate and thiourea, but partially alleviated by kinetin. For using the two grass species in restoration of degraded rangelands affected by higher salinity, the results suggest using fusicoccin, GA3, nitrate and thiourea with L. scindicus and GA3 with P. turgidum seeds as a preseeding treatment can overcome the problem of reduced germination.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)163-170
Number of pages8
JournalPlant Growth Regulation
Volume62
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Desert grasses
  • Glycophytes
  • Salinity induced dormancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Plant Science

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