FACTORS INFLUENCING SEED GERMINATION IN SALICORNIA PACIFICA VAR. UTAHENSIS

The halophyte, Salicornia pacifica var. utahensis (Tiderstorm) Munz produces seed under high salinity conditions, and deposits its seed on saline soil. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of salinity, temperature and growth regulators on germination. Results indicate that the seeds can germinate at very high salt concentration (5% NaCl). Germination was sensitive to the changes in temperature regimes. At higher 30–20 C, light-dark sequence, no germination occurred at 3, 4 and 5% NaCl treatments. On the other hand, 30% germination did occur at 5% NaCl treatment at a temperature regime of 15–5 C. These seeds required light for germination. Only 50% germination occurred in the non-saline control in the dark and the addition of NaCl further reduced germination. The GA₃ partially alleviated the inhibitory effect of NaCl and darkness. Kinetin did not promote germination.