聚乙二醇(PEG6000)模拟干旱胁迫抑制矮沙冬青种子的萌发

本研究以新疆特有濒危保护植物矮沙冬青(A mmmopiptanthus nanus(M.Pop.)Cheng f.)的种子为材料,用不同渗透势浓度的聚乙二醇(PEG6000)模拟干旱胁迫,探讨干旱胁迫对矮沙冬青种子发芽率、平均发芽速度、胚轴和胚根长度及发芽指数、活力指数的影响.结果表明,不同浓度PEG胁迫处理均降低了种子的发芽率,延缓了矮沙冬青种子萌发进程;种子的发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数均随胁迫强度的增加呈明显下降趋势.当-1.20 MPa的PEG胁迫处理的种子在试验结束时仍未能萌发,表明-1.20 MPa是矮沙冬青种子萌发的临界水势.PEG模拟干旱胁迫中,当PEG处理为-0.2 MPa时,虽然最终发芽率与对照一样,但其胚根、胚轴的长度都比对照短,说明矮沙冬青胚根、胚轴的生长比发芽率对干旱胁迫更敏感.干旱胁迫可能是导致矮沙冬青种群天然更新能力弱的原因之一.本研究将为矮沙冬青种质资源的保护和种群的恢复提供科学依据.     

聚乙二醇模拟水分胁迫对沙地樟子松种子萌发影响研究

以引种区沙地樟子松种子为材料,观测了聚乙二醇(PEG)模拟水分胁迫对沙地樟子松种子萌发的影响.结果表明,不同浓度PEG处理胁迫对种子的萌发均有一定的延缓作用;种子的发芽率、发芽指数和发芽势随胁迫强度的增加呈现明显下降趋势.30%PEG处理的种子在试验结束后仍未能萌发,表明樟子松种子的萌发的临界PEG水分胁迫值小于30%,相当于-1.20MPa的水势.种子发芽后胚根和胚轴的生长亦受到PEG模拟水分胁迫,当PEG浓度为10%时(相当于-0.2MPa水势),胚根、胚轴的长度都较短,说明樟子松种子的胚根、胚轴的生长对PEG模拟干旱胁迫更敏感;但胚根/胚芽的比值随PEG模拟水分胁迫的强度增加而增加,表明樟子松种子萌发后对水分胁迫具有较强的适应性.由此可见,干旱胁迫影响引种区沙地樟子松种子的萌发可能是导致沙地樟子松人工林不能天然更新的因素之一.     

扁蓿豆和苜蓿种子萌发期抗旱性和耐盐性比较

为明晰扁蓿豆[Medicago ruthenica(Linn.)Trautv.]和苜蓿(Medicago varia Martin.)种子萌发期的抗旱性和耐盐性强弱,以不同浓度的聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)和Na Cl溶液模拟干旱和盐胁迫,研究了不同程度干旱和盐浓度对采自甘肃景泰的扁蓿豆和苜蓿品种阿尔冈金(M.varia Martin.cv."Algonquin")种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,干旱胁迫和盐胁迫降低了扁蓿豆和苜蓿种子的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数,抑制了胚芽和胚根的生长。-0.3~-0.9 MPa和-1.5 MPa的PEG处理下苜蓿和扁蓿豆种子的相对发芽率间无显著差异,-1.2 MPa的PEG胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽率显著高于扁蓿豆。-0.3~-1.2MPa的PEG胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽指数均显著高于扁蓿豆,其相对芽长无显著差异。Na Cl渗透势为-0.9~-1.5 MPa时,苜蓿种子的相对发芽率显著高于扁蓿豆;-0.3~-1.2 MPa的Na Cl胁迫下苜蓿种子的相对发芽指数和相对活力指数均显著高于扁蓿豆。通过种子萌发期的相对发芽率、相对发芽指数、相对活力指数、相对胚根长和相对胚芽长5项指标,应用隶属函数法对参试材料种子萌发期抗旱性和耐盐性进行综合评价的结果表明,苜蓿品种阿尔冈金种子萌发期的抗旱性、耐盐性均强于来自景泰的扁蓿豆。此结果和人们以往对扁蓿豆和苜蓿的认识"扁蓿豆的抗旱性和耐盐性优于苜蓿"不一致。     

干旱胁迫对鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

为探明鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生长期的耐旱性,以鹿角杜鹃干种子和90d苗龄幼苗为材料,采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,研究干旱胁迫对其种子萌发、早期幼苗生长及幼苗的细胞膜透性、MDA含量、有机渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的影响,并对种子萌发率、早期幼苗生长量与PEG胁迫浓度间进行了回归分析。结果表明:(1)5%~25%PEG胁迫范围内,随着干旱胁迫程度的增加,鹿角杜鹃种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽持续时间延长,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和幼苗生长量显著降低;重度干旱胁迫(25%PEG)下,鹿角杜鹃种子完全未萌发。(2)发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数以及幼苗生长量的变化均与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著负相关关系,回归分析求得鹿角杜鹃种子萌发的半致死PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.68%、半致矮PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.37%。(3)随着PEG胁迫浓度的增加,鹿角杜鹃幼苗叶片SOD活性呈先升后降的趋势,但各胁迫处理仍显著高于CK(0%PEG);细胞膜透性、MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量、POD和CAT活性则在中度(15%~20%PEG)和重度胁迫下显著升高,与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著正相关关系。研究表明,干旱胁迫显著抑制了鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和早期幼苗生长,使其细胞膜受到损伤,同时鹿角杜鹃可通过体内渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的增加来适应干旱环境,使得自身受抑制、损伤程度降到最低。     

亚精胺浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶种子萌发及淀粉代谢的影响

以‘拉丁诺’白三叶为材料,用0、10%、15%、20%（W/V）的聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）溶液模拟干旱条件,研究亚精胺（Spd）浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶种子萌发和淀粉代谢的影响。结果表明,在PEG渗透胁迫下,白三叶种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重和胚根长度均显著（P<0.05）降低,淀粉水解为糖类的速率减慢;与蒸馏水浸种相比,0.05mmol·L^-1Spd浸种处理显著（P<0.05）提高了在渗透胁迫条件下种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重、干重和胚根长度,同时大幅提高了α-淀粉酶、β-淀粉酶及（α+β）-淀粉酶总活性,降低了淀粉含量,增加了还原糖和葡萄糖含量。说明Spd浸种提高了白三叶种子在渗透胁迫下的萌发能力和幼苗生长的环境适应性,这可能与增强种子体内淀粉酶活性,加速淀粉水解为还原糖和葡萄糖,为种子萌发和幼苗早期生长及时提供充足能量有关。     

入侵植物牛膝菊种子萌发对PEG模拟干旱胁迫的响应

采用浓度分别为5%、10%、15%、20%和25%的PEG-6000溶液模拟干旱条件,测定不同干旱胁迫条件下牛膝菊的种子萌发时间、萌发率、日相对萌发率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数及幼苗的初生根与胚芽的长度等指标,研究了干旱胁迫对牛膝菊种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,探讨了经PEG浸种预处理后种子的萌发恢复能力。结果表明:随着水分胁迫的加重,牛膝菊种子萌发和幼苗生长受到抑制程度增加,牛膝菊种子的日相对萌发率、发芽率、发芽势和发芽指数、活力指数及幼苗的初生根长和胚芽长均呈下降趋势;与对照组相比,牛膝菊种子首次萌发时间延迟越长,当PEG浓度为20%、25%时牛膝菊种子未见萌发;本研究建立了水分胁迫PEG浓度与种子萌发率的线性回归方程,得出牛膝菊种子萌发的PEG浓度临界值为12.9%;经PEG浓度为20%、25%处理的种子在适宜条件下可以恢复萌发,浸种时间相同条件下,20%PEG浓度对牛膝菊种子伤害较小,其恢复性较强,25%PEG浓度对牛膝菊种子伤害较大,其恢复性较弱。     

PEG胁迫对文冠果种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

在种子发芽箱中,以清水为对照,用5%、10%、15%、20%、25%、30%和35%共7个浓度聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)溶液浇灌栽培基质,观察文冠果种子的萌发和幼苗生长情况,以及幼苗叶片脯氨酸、丙二醛的含量和细胞膜相对透性的变化,探讨文冠果种子萌发对土壤水分的要求及其幼苗忍耐干旱的能力。结果显示:(1)在PEG浓度5%～35%范围内,文冠果种子发芽率、成苗率、幼苗根长和细胞膜透性均随着胁迫强度的增加呈明显的下降趋势;细胞膜透性随着胁迫强度的增加先升高后降低,但脯氨酸、丙二醛含量和幼苗根数量则呈现逐渐上升趋势。(2)5%的PEG浓度能够促进文冠果种子萌发,提高成苗率和根数量,降低幼苗死亡率;5%～10%的PEG能够明显促进苗高生长,但对根长影响不大;当PEG浓度高于15%后,种子萌发受到抑制,成苗率明显降低。(3)当PEG浓度高于25%时幼苗死亡率急剧上升,幼苗脯氨酸含量、丙二醛含量和细胞膜透性显著增加,细胞膜结构受到严重伤害。研究表明,低浓度PEG处理有利于文冠果种子萌发和幼苗生长,但过高浓度却对文冠果种子萌发和幼苗生长具有一定的抑制作用;文冠果种子萌发及其幼苗可忍受5%～25%的PEG渗透胁迫,即文冠果种子萌发和幼苗生长可忍受土壤水势为-7.94～-11.05MPa的干旱胁迫。     

等渗的盐分和水分胁迫对杠柳种子萌发的影响

通过等渗的NaCl和PEG溶液模拟盐分和水分胁迫,设置渗透梯度,在控制条件下对杠柳种子的萌发过程中总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、胚根生长、种子活力、发芽值等指标系统研究,对种子萌发率与渗透势之间关系进行回归分析,主要结果包括：（1）杠柳种子萌发过程中总萌发率、幼苗鲜重、活力指数和发芽值四项指标均随NaCl和PEG溶液的渗透势降低逐渐下降,综合研究活力指数和发芽值表明渗透势≥-0.5 MPa和≤-1.4 MPa时,PEG对种子萌发抑制作用大于NaCl,其他情况相反;（2）杠柳种子逐日萌发率和胚根日变化研究表明,与NaCl相比,PEG推迟杠柳种子萌发,并且对胚根增长抑制作用较大;（3）建立盐分和水分胁迫条件下种子萌发率与渗透势回归方程,发现杠柳种子在PEG胁迫下的萌发临界值和极限值为-1.0和-1.4 MPa,在NaCl胁迫下是-0.9和-1.3 MPa,解除胁迫条件,不同处理的杠柳种子复水萌发率均达到100%。说明杠柳具有良好的耐盐抗旱的特性。     

亚精胺浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶子萌发及淀粉代谢的影响

以‘拉丁诺’白三叶为材料,用0、10％、15％、20％（W/V）即的聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）溶液模拟干旱条件,研究亚精胺fSpd）浸种对渗透胁迫下白三叶种子萌发和淀粉代谢的影响。结果表明,在PEG渗透胁迫下,白三叶种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重和胚根长度均显著（P〈0．05）降低,淀粉水解为糖类的速率减慢;与蒸馏水浸种相比,0．05mmol．L-1 Spd浸种处理显著（P〈0．05）提高了在渗透胁迫条件下种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、胚芽及胚根鲜重、干重和胚根长度,同时大幅提高了α-淀粉酶、β-淀粉酶及（α＋β）．淀粉酶总活性,降低了淀粉含量,增加了还原糖和葡萄糖含量。说明Spd浸种提高了白三叶种子在渗透胁迫下的萌发能力和幼苗生长的环境适应性,这可能与增强种子体内淀粉酶活性,加速淀粉水解为还原糖和葡萄糖,为种子萌发和幼苗早期生长及时提供充足能量有关。     

温度对干旱、盐胁迫下两种黄芪属种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨温度对干旱、盐胁迫下黄芪属种子萌发和幼苗生长特性的影响,以黄芪属蒙古黄芪和扁茎黄芪2种种子为研究对象,纯净水处理为对照组,NaCl、PEG处理为实验组,设置4个渗透势水平(0、-0.1、-0.3、-0.5 MPa),置于5种不同的温度(10、15、20、25、30 ℃)下,每日观察并记录两种种子萌发和幼苗生长情况。结果表明：旱盐胁迫下蒙古黄芪和扁茎黄芪种子萌发最适宜的温度分别为25和20 ℃左右;蒙古黄芪耐高温不耐低温,而扁茎黄芪恰恰相反;但25和20 ℃均适宜两种幼苗生长,包括胚根、胚轴和子叶的生长。蒙古黄芪各处理组(除未发芽的种子)的平均发芽时间都比扁茎黄芪长;NaCl胁迫程度的增加使得两种种子的最终发芽率降低,但蒙古黄芪的耐盐性高于扁茎黄芪;随着PEG胁迫程度的增加,二者的发芽均受到抑制,甚至会出现完全不萌发,但扁茎黄芪的耐旱性高于蒙古黄芪;在相同的渗透势时,尤其是-0.5 MPa,PEG比NaCl对两种种子的影响大;交互胁迫作用下,随着渗透势的增加两种幼苗的鲜重、干重以及胚根、胚轴、子叶的长和宽变化较大;利用Design Expert软件预测发现：温度25 ℃、NaCl渗透势为-0.1 MPa,温度24 ℃、PEG渗透势为-0.04 MPa的处理是蒙古黄芪种子萌发和幼苗生长达到最优化的组合;而扁茎黄芪最优化的组合则为23 ℃下NaCl渗透势为-0.07 MPa的处理,20 ℃下PEG渗透势为-0.13 MPa的处理。     

模拟干旱胁迫下六个种源梓树种子萌发特性及地理变异研究

该研究采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫,测定了发芽率、发芽势和胚根长度等指标,运用相关性分析、聚类分析和隶属函数法综合评价梓树六个种源种子萌发期的抗旱性大小,初步筛选出抗旱性较强的种源。结果表明:随着溶液水势的降低,六个种源种子的发芽率、发芽势、相对发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数表现为持续下降趋势;除河南洛阳种源的胚根、胚轴长度以及甘肃正宁种源的胚根长度外,其余种源胚根、胚轴长度均表现为逐渐下降趋势;溶液水势为-1.0 MPa时,河南洛阳种源失活,其余种源各指标趋于一致。将各种源种子发芽特性与原产地地理环境因子进行相关分析表明,种子活力指数与经度、纬度呈显著正相关(0.903和0.871),经度、纬度较大的种源活力更强、抗旱性更佳;年均气温越高,种子发芽率和活力均降低;年降雨量与种子的发芽率和活力指数呈中偏弱的负相关,但与胚根和胚轴的生长呈中等正相关;温度和降雨量对梓树种子的抗旱性有一定影响,主要体现在年均温和年降雨量越低,种子的发芽率也越低;初步发现处于干旱和寒冷等相对恶劣环境下的梓树种源表现为以提高种子发芽率和降低种子胚生长活性的调节机制来适应不良环境。运用聚类分析及隶属函数法对六个种源梓树种子萌发期进行抗旱性综合评价,辽宁恒仁种源种子抗旱性最强,河南洛阳种源种子抗旱性最弱。综上结果认为,梓树六个种源抗旱性差异明显,温度和降雨量在一定程度上影响了种子萌发的抗旱性。     

Effects of drought stress on seed germination of ornamental sunflowers

The response to drought stress on germination was investigated on three hybrids of ornamental sunflower, ‘Hadar’, ‘Pazit’, and ‘Zohar’. Different levels of water potential [Ψ: 0.0 (control), ?0.15, ?0.30, ?0.45, ?0.60, ?0.75, and ?0.90 MPa] were adopted using polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG6000) at four germination temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C). Final germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, germination rate index, and germination stress tolerance index were used to evaluate the genotype response to PEG-induced water stress. Shoot and root length and fresh and dry weight were measured on seeds germinated at 20 °C under the different levels of water potentials. During germination, the three ornamental sunflowers showed to be more sensitive to suboptimal temperature than to supraoptimal. Decreasing water potential of imbibition solution progressively inhibited and delayed seed germination. Among cultivars, ‘Hadar’ and ‘Pazit’ performed better at temperature lower than 30 °C. ‘Zohar’ showed a lower sensitivity to PEG-induced water stress at all temperature conditions. Water stress during seed germination depressed the following seedling growth under favourable conditions. As a result, shoot and root length and fresh and dry weight was significantly lower in seedlings from seed germinated at ψ ≤ 0.45 MPa.     

干旱胁迫下白刺花种子大小与萌发对策

种子大小与种子萌发及其与环境因子的关系是植物种子萌发对策研究中的重要科学问题之一。采用PEG模拟干旱法研究不同干旱胁迫强度(0,5%,10%,15%,20%)下,白刺花(Sophora davidii)种子萌发进程、种子大小与种子萌发及种子命运的关系。结果表明:不同干旱胁迫下,白刺花种子具有相似的萌发进程,但中度干旱处理(10%PEG)萌发率显著高于零干旱(0%PEG)和重度干旱处理(P0.05),重度干旱处理(20%PEG)种子萌发开始时间晚于零干旱和中度干旱处理;种子大小与种子萌发开始时间的关系表现为零干旱处理下呈极显著负线性关系,中度干旱处理(5%PEG,10%PEG)下无相关关系,重度干旱处理(15%PEG,20%PEG)下呈负二次曲线关系;种子大小对种子命运的影响表现为零干旱处理有利于大、小种子萌发和小种子休眠,中度干旱处理(10%PEG)增加中等种子萌发、大种子休眠和小种子死亡风险,重度干旱处理(15%PEG,20%PEG)增加大种子死亡风险、中等种子和小种子休眠。综合分析表明,白刺花种子大小与萌发行为及种子命运的关系具有较强的环境依赖性,即种子萌发行为表现为顺境下种子越大萌发越快,逆境下小种子和大种子较中等种子萌发更快;种子命运表现为顺境增加种子死亡的风险,中度干扰有利于种子萌发,逆境则有利于种子休眠。     

Physiological and morphological response to water deficit in seedlings of five provenances of Pinus canariensis: potential to detect variation in drought-tolerance

To assess the potential of short-term screenings for drought resistance at the seedling stage to detect ecotypic variation and predict field performance, we studied the responses to water deficit of seedlings of Pinus canariensis from five geographic origins under controlled conditions and compared these responses with the performance of provenances in a multi-site field trial. Leaf water potential, the osmotic component, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence and growth and biomass partitioning were measured as seedlings were subjected for 11 days to two levels of osmotic potential generated by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), −1 MPa (slowly imposed water deficit; S) and −1.5 MPa (fast imposed water deficit; F), and a control treatment (no PEG added to the nutrient solution; C). Leaf water potential declined to final mean values of −1.2, −2.7 and −4.7 MPa in the C, S and F treatments, respectively. The ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence declined to final mean values of 0.77, 0.66 and 0.40 in the C, S and F treatments, respectively, with no differences amongst provenances. All provenances showed an active osmotic adjustment (OA) in response to water deficit which varied depending on the drying rate. A slow imposition of water deficit favoured solute accumulation. Pooling all treatments, the index of OA ranged from 0.28 to 0.40, but rose considerably when only C and S treatments were considered (0.56 to 0.70). There was a positive and significant correlation between the overall index of OA (all treatments pooled) and the drought period in the site of origin, suggesting ecotypic variation in OA as a result of drought duration. Seedlings allocated more dry matter to roots than shoots when subjected to moderate and slowly imposed water deficit; only one provenance showed no increase in the root to shoot ratio at the end of the treatment period compared with control seedlings. Responses to controlled water deficits were only qualitatively related to performance (survival and growth) of provenances in several field sites, indicating the involvement of complex mechanisms to cope with drought under natural conditions. However, the provenance with the highest overall index of OA outgrew and outsurvived the other provenances in the most arid site, and the only provenance not modifying the root to shoot ratio in response to water deficit survived the least in all field sites. Acclimation of root to shoot ratio and net solute accumulation to water deficit could hence favour drought-tolerance beyond the seedling stage and be used as preliminary predictors of field performance.     

干旱胁迫对远志种子萌发及幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

以远志(Polygala tenuifolia Willd.)为研究对象,采用不同浓度(2.5%~25%)聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,探讨干旱胁迫对远志种子萌发及幼苗生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫强度的增加,远志种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数降低,但种子发芽率在2.5%~15%PEG胁迫下与对照无显著性差异,而在20%PEG胁迫下均显著低于对照,在25%PEG胁迫下种子不能萌发;在干旱胁迫条件下,远志幼苗生物量降低,胚芽生长受到显著抑制,胚根长度则先伸长后缩短。(2)远志幼苗叶绿素含量在2.5%~10%PEG范围内随胁迫强度的增加和时间的延长而持续上升,在15%和20%PEG胁迫下则表现为先上升后下降,在10%PEG胁迫处理第15天时含量最高,为对照的1.34倍。(3)幼苗叶片的游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量随PEG胁迫强度的增加和时间的延长而增加,各指标均在20%PEG胁迫处理第15天时含量最高,分别为对照的1.99倍、1.53倍和1.50倍。(4)随着PEG胁迫时间的延长,远志幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先上升后下降,并在10%PEG胁迫处理第10天时活性最强;过氧化物酶(POD)活性随着胁迫时间的延长表现出先上升后下降又上升的特性,并在20%PEG胁迫处理第5天时活性最强;叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量在15%和20%PEG胁迫处理下持续上升,在2.5%~10%PEG胁迫范围内先上升后又有所下降。研究发现,远志种子在轻、中度干旱胁迫下仍可正常萌发,而且幼苗能通过调节自身生长、渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶活性主动适应干旱环境,对干旱环境表现出较好的适应能力。     

Changes in Germination and Seedling Traits of Sesame under Simulated Drought

Drought is considered one of the leading abiotic constraints to agricultural crop production globally. Present study was conducted to assess the effects of different drought treatments (viz. Control, 10% PEG, and 20% PEG) on seed germination, germination indices, seedling traits, and drought tolerance indices of sesame. Our results showed that maximum reduction in the studied parameters was observed at higher PEG concentration (i.e., 20% PEG). As compared to control, the drought treatments viz. 10% and 20% PEG decreased the values for germination indices, such as germination percentage, coefficient of variation of germination time, germination index, and seedling vigor index. Similarly, for seedling traits, the values were decreased for root length, shoot length, root shoot ratio, root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight, root dry weight and shoot dry weight under 10% and 20% PEG treatments significantly in comparison with control. Furthermore, relative to control, the values for drought tolerance indices, such as germination drought tolerance index, root length drought tolerance index, shoot length drought tolerance index, total seedling length drought tolerance index, root fresh weight drought tolerance index, shoot fresh weight drought tolerance index, total fresh weight drought tolerance index, root dry weight drought tolerance index, shoot dry weight drought tolerance index and total dry weight drought tolerance index were also reduced under 10% and 20% PEG treatments, respectively. Our results confirms that drought impact on seed germination and seedling traits could be quantified by using different indices which can further help to design drought adaptation and mitigation strategies. Based on these results it can be concluded that germination indices, seedling traits, and drought tolerance indices have great potential to simulate drought stress impacts on different crop traits thus they should be used in all kinds of stress related studies.     

Sensitivity of seed germination to water stress in high-altitude populations of a threatened palm species

• Divergence in seed germination patterns among populations of the same species is important for understanding plant responses to environmental gradients and potential plant sensitivity to climate change. In order to test responses to flooding and decreasing water potentials, over 3 years we germinated and grew seeds from three habitats of Euterpe edulis Mart. occurring along an altitudinal gradient.
• Seed germination and root growth were evaluated under different water availability treatments: control, flood, −0.4 MPa, −0.8 MPa, in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, and in the final year of the experiment (2014) at −1.0 MPa and −1.5 MPa.
• Seeds from the montane habitat did not germinate in the flooding treatment. Seed germination of all three habitats decreased in the −1.5 MPa treatment and the montane habitat had lowest germination in this treatment. Time required for half of the seeds to germinate increased up to −0.8 MPa. Seeds from montane habitats germinated more slowly in all treatments. The only difference in seed germination synchrony was an increase in the submontane population under the flooding treatment. However, synchrony decreased at the lowest water potentials. Roots of the montane population were more vigorous in most treatments, except at −0.8 MPa.
• The unusual ability of these seeds to germinate at low water potentials might be related to early seed germination at the onset of the rainy season, which potentially decreases seed predation pressure. Seeds of the montane population were more sensitive to both types of water stress. A predicted increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme high rainfall or drought events may predispose early stages of this population to adverse factors that might negatively affect population viability with elevational in future climate change scenarios.