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The effect of salt on germination of samphire species
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The effect of salt on germination of samphire species

J.E. Purvis, B. Datson, K. Meney, J. McComb and M. Coleman
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues, Vol.15, pp.241-246
2009
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Abstract

Nine Halosarcia plant species from Lake Carey, Western Australia, were tested to determine the effect of salt on seed germination. These species were Halosarcia 'Angel Fish Island' (B. Davey 4) Halosarcia calyptrata Paul G. Wilson, Halosarcia halocnemoides (Nees) Paul G. Wilson, Halosarcia peltata Paul G. Wilson, Halosarcia pergranulata (J. M. Black) Paul G. Wilson, Halosarcia undulata Paul G. Wilson. All species were subjected to salt concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 30 g/l NaCl both in the laboratory in Petri dishes and under outdoor conditions, wither buried or on the surface of soil from the lake margin. The nine species were also tested for their ability to recover, the seeds were germinated in fresh water. For the majority of species, increased NaCl concentrations resulted in decreased germination percentages both in the laboratory and outdoors. In contrast, H. halocnemoides showed a slight increase in germination percentages at higher NaCl concentrations. In laboratory trials, the greatest reduction in germination percentage was 81% for H. 'Angel Fish Island'; the average reduction was 37% across all species. In outdoor experiments, germination only reached a maximum of 25% which could have been due to lack of moisture, scarification of seeds, or temperature. Averaged across all the species, there was an increase of 58% in germination of the remaining seeds once salt was removed by flushing with fresh water.

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