THE EFFECT OF SEED DIMORPHISM ON THE GERMINATION AND SURVIVAL OF SALICORNIA EUROPAEA L. POPULATIONS

Seed dimorphism influenced the germination behavior of Salicornia europaea L., with small seeds being more dormant and less salt tolerant than large seeds. All of the large less dormant seeds of S. europaea germinated prior to May, and all seedlings produced after this time were from small seeds. A persistent seed bank was maintained by the small dormant seeds. Survivorship was relatively constant during the normal germination season, but increasing salinity stress at any time during the spring reduces the chance of seedling survival. Little germination occurred from July through September because of the high surface soil salinities during this period.