Author(s): A.M. El-Sheikh
Article publication date: 1984-09-01
Vol. 2 No. 2 (yearly), pp. 20-31.
161
Keywords
Saudi Arabia, germination, seedlings
Abstract
Zygophyllum decumbens is a low perennial shrublet. Freshly collected seeds of Z. decumbens were germinated over a range of fluctuating temperature regimes. They were also germinated in varying salinity levels at two fluctuating (12 hourly) temperatures regimes: 21/10-36/21 C. Seeds germinated to comparable high percentages over the whole range of the temperature regimes tested but the rate of germination increased with rising temperature reaching an optimum within the range 21/10 - 36/21 C The inhibition of germination of the seeds of this species by excessive salinities (40, 80 and 100% seawater) is due to high osmotic potential of the medium.