Salt tolerance at the germination stage of Atriplex cordobensis Gandoger et Stuckert (Chenopodiaceae) from different provenances

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of salinity, temperature and provenance of seeds on germination and early seedling growth of Atriplex cordobensis. Seeds were exposed to 0, −0.5, −1 and −1.5 MPa NaCl and temperature regimes of 10, 20 and 30°C. Germination recovery under optimum conditions after exposure to salinity was also studied. The results of the variables analyzed revealed that the temperature-salinity interaction affects germination velocity, final germination and seedling growth, to an extent that depends on the provenance of seeds. Seedlings from Salinas Grandes showed the highest adaptation. It is reasonable to assume that they showed better germination and early seedling growth because they had accumulated more salts during their formation in the mother plant when compared to the other two provenances. For this reason, seed were able to maintain a good rate of water uptake even under high salinity conditions. Their physiological behavior allowed a greater and more rapid germination and a greater seedling growth under salt stress conditions.