Role of perianth colour in germination and salinity tolerance of Salsola vermiculata in Arabian deserts
15 July 2017
Bhatt, Arvind; Phartyal, Shyam S.; Phondani, Prakash C.; Gallacher, DavidDimorphic perianth colour of Salsola vermiculata seeds was investigated for association with germination percentage, and interactions with temperature, light, salinity and recovery from prior salinity exposure. Seeds with and without pink and yellow perianth were incubated at three thermal regimes, two photoperiods, and five salinity levels. Germination recovery after salinity exposure was observed on seeds that failed to germinate during the salinity study. Germination percentage and rate were significantly influenced by the perianth colour, the presence of wings, thermal regimes and photoperiod. The presence of wing perianth significantly reduced the germination percentage and rate in both pink and yellow morphs. Yellow seeds exhibited a higher germination percentage. Perianth wing removal increased germination in saline conditions. With the perianth removed, germination recovery was higher for pink seeds. It is possible that the production of the two morphs allows S. vermiculata to be more successful in highly unpredictable desert conditions by providing two different strategies for balancing germination with dormancy during favourable conditions.