Some Adaptive Characteristics of Seeds, Germination and Seedling Development in Haloxylon salicornicum PDF

Keywords

seedlings, germination, hydration

Abstract

Seeds of Haloxylon salicornicum consist of an embryo axis which forms a compressed spirillum, and the young seedlings show a variety of irregular shapes. Germination is viviparous in nature and can take place any time after maturation if enough moisture is available. After heavy rains in November and December, germinating seeds are often observed on intact fruits still attached to the bush. Highly viable seeds, hydrated for several hours and redried for a week, maintained full germination capacity and produced normal seedlings upon rehydration. Very young seedlings survived drying for a week and became reactivated upon hydration.