Foliage colour influence on seed germination of Bienertia cycloptera in Arabian deserts
15 October 2015
Bhatt, Arvind; Perez, Felix; Phondani, Prakash C.Bienertia cycloptera (Chenopodiaceae) produces two types of leaf foliage colour (reddish and yellowish). In order to determine the role of leaf colour variation in regulating the germination characteristics and salinity tolerance during germination, a study was conducted on seeds collected from both coloured plants. Seeds with and without pulp were germinated under two illumination conditions (12-h light photoperiod and continuous dark), three alternating temperature regimes (15/25 ºC, 20/30 ºC and 25/35 °C), and several salinity levels at 20/30°C.Germination percentage was significantly higher for seeds without pulp as compared to the seeds with pulp.The response of B. cycloptera seeds to salinity depended on the leaf colour. Thus, the seeds collected from reddish plant colours were able to tolerate more salinity compared to yellowish plant colours. The germination recovery results indicate that the seeds from both coloured plants could remain viable in saline condition and they will able to germinate once the salinity level are decreases by rain. The production of different foliage colours by B. cycloptera seems to be an adaptation strategy which guarantees the possibility for establishment in unpredictable environments by producing seeds with difference in germination and salinity tolerance.