Abstract
Controlled conditions were used to investigate the relationship between ion distribution in developing seeds of two Suaeda salsa populations and seed germination and seedling emergence. Seeds were harvested from S. salsa plants that had been treated with 1 or 400 mM NaCl for 122 (saline inland population) or 135 days (intertidal zone population) in a glasshouse. Germination and seedling emergence were evaluated under salinity. In both populations, more ions were accumulated in the pericarps of plants cultured in 400 mM NaCl than in 1 mM NaCl. Pericarps accumulated much higher ion concentrations in the intertidal zone population than in the saline inland population, while the opposite trend occurred for ion accumulation in the embryos. Seeds of plants from the intertidal zone population germinated more rapidly than those from plants of the saline inland population, regardless of the NaCl concentration during seed germination. However, seedling emergence under high salinity was lower with seeds from the intertidal zone population than with seeds from the saline inland population. In conclusion, S. salsa in the intertidal zone employs superior control of ion compartmentalization in the pericarps to tolerate salinity but requires a minimal level of ions in embryos to ensure seedling establishment in highly saline environments. This indicates that euhalophytes require salts during the mature seed stage to maintain seed viability and to ensure seedling emergence and population establishment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dodd GL, Donovan LA (1999) Water potential and effects on germination and seedling growth of two cold desert shrubs. Am J Bot 86:1146–1153
Eddleman LE, Romo JT (1987) Sodium relations in seeds and seedlings of Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Soil Sci 143:120–123
Glenn EP, Brown JJ (1999) Salt tolerance and crop potential of halophytes. Crit Rev Plant Sci 18:227–255
Hosseini MK, Powell AA, Bingham IJ (2002) Comparison of the seed germination and early seedling growth of soybean in saline conditions. Seed Sci Res 12:165–172
Khan MA, Ungar IA (1996) Influence of salinity and temperature on the germination of Haloxylon recurvum Bunge ex. Boiss. Ann Bot 78:547–551
Li RQ, Wang JB (2002) Cell and physiology of plant stress (in Chinese). Wuhan University Press, Wuhan
Li WQ, Liu XJ, Khan MA, Yamaguchi (2005) The effect of plant growth regulators, nitric oxide, nitrite and light on the germination of dimorphic seeds of Suaeda salsa under saline conditions. J Plant Res 118:207–214
Liu Y (2006) Study on pigment accumulation and photosynthesis in Suaeda salsa under different natural conditions (in Chinese). MSc Thesis. Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
Megdiche W, Amor NB, Debez A, Hessini K, Ksouri R, Zuily-Fodil Y, Abdelly C (2007) Salt tolerance of the annual halophyte Cakile maritima as affected by the provenance and the developmental stage. Acta Physiol Planta 29:375–384
Munns R, Tester M (2008) Mechanisms of saline tolerance. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 59:651–681
Nichols PGH, Malik AI, Stockdale M, Colmer TD (2009) Salt tolerance and avoidance mechanisms at germination of annual pasture legumes: importance for adaptation to saline environments. Plant Soil 315:241–255
Petruzzelli L, Melillo MT, Zacheo TB, Taranto G (1992) Physiological and ultrastructural changes in isolated wheat embryos during salt and osmotic shock. Ann Bot 69:25–31
Poljakoff-Mayber A, Somers GF, Werker E, Gallagher JL (1994) Seeds of Kosteletzkya virginica (Malvacae): their structure, germination and salt tolerance. II. Germination and salt tolerance. Am J Bot 81:54–59
Rozema J, Flowers T (2008) Crops for a salinized world. Science 322:1478–1480
SAS Institute (1989) SAS/STAT User’s Guide. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC
Song J, Feng G, Tian CY, Zhang FS (2005) Strategies for adaptation of Suaeda physophora, Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum to saline environment during seed germination stage. Ann Bot 96:399–405
Song J, Feng G, Zhang FS (2006) Salinity and temperature effects on germination for three salt-resistant euhalophytes, Halostachys caspica, Kalidium foliatum and Halocnemum strobilaceum. Plant Soil 279:201–207
Song J, Feng G, Li ZK, Chen AD, Chen XM, Zhang FS (2007) Effects of salinity and scarifying seed coat on ion concentration of embryos and seed germination for Suaeda physophora and Haloxylon ammodendron. Seed Sci Technol 35:615–623
Song J, Fan H, Zhao YY, Jia YH, Du XH, Wang BS (2008) Effect of salinity on germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth and ion accumulation of a euhalophyte Suaeda salsa in an intertidal zone and on saline inland. Aquat Bot 88:331–337
Song J, Chen M, Feng G, Jia YH, Wang BS, Zhang FS (2009a) Effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa. Plant Soil 314:133–141
Song J, Shi GW, Xing S, Yin CH, Fan H, Wang BS (2009b) Ecophysiological responses of the euhalophyte Suaeda salsa to the interactive effects of salinity and nitrate availability. Aquat Bot 91:311–317
Tessier M, Gloaguen JC, Lefeuvre JC (2000) Factors affecting the population dynamics of Suaeda maritima at initial stages of development. Plant Ecol 147:193–203
Tlig T, Gorai M, Neffati M (2008) Germination responses of Diplotaxis harra to temperature and salinity. Flora 203:421–428
Tobe K, Li XM, Omasa K (2004) Effects of five salts on seed germination and seedling growth of Haloxylon ammodendron (Chenopodiaceae). Seed Sci Res 14:345–353
Ungar IA (1996) Effects of salinity on seed germination, growth, and ion accumulation of Atriplex patula (Chenopodiaceae). Am J Bot 83:604–607
Wei Y, Dong M, Huang ZY, Tan DY (2008) Factors influencing seed germination of Salsola affinis (Chenopodiaceae), a dominant annual halophyte inhabiting the deserts of Xinjiang, China. Flora 203:134–140
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr. R.K. Upadhyay (Department of Life Science, Assam Central University, Silchar), the journal Editor Professor John McPherson Cheeseman, and the anonymous referees for their valuable suggestions. The financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2010CM005), the State High Technological Research and Development Plan (2007AA091701) and the National Key Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2009BADA7B05) is greatly appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible Editor: John McPherson Cheeseman.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, X., Zhang, X., Song, J. et al. Accumulation of ions during seed development under controlled saline conditions of two Suaeda salsa populations is related to their adaptation to saline environments. Plant Soil 341, 99–107 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0625-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0625-6