Effect of salinity and light on germination of Salsola grandis freitag, Vural & N. Adiguzel (Chenopodiaceae)

Salsola grandis (Chenopodiaceae) is a xero-halophytic and local endemic species from Nallihan-Turkey and has IUCN threat category of CR. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of light and salinity on germination of S. grandis which could be the explanation of the small population size and distribution area. Seeds were collected at fall of 2011 and used without perianth segments. All the trials were conducted at (12 h/12 h) 20/8 oC day and night temperature regime. For the influence of salinity different NaCl concentrations were used, distilled water (as control), 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 800 mM NaCl. Seeds that did not germinate under saline conditions were taken into recovery tests. After recovery the un-germinated seeds were tested for viability with TTC test. As a result light did not have any influence on germination. As in other halophytes increase in NaCl concentration results decrease in germination ratio. The best germination was observed in distilled water. Although salinity repress the germination of S. grandis seeds even at 800 mM NaCl there was 11.6% germination percentage, so it can be concluded that the seeds of S. grandis are salt tolerant