Effect of Salinity on Viability of Wild Pistachio Seed (Pistacia vera L) in Khajeh Kalat Forest, Iran

The wide area of Iran is effected by salinity. So, study on salinity tolerance of plants are too important. Therefore this study was conducted to investigate effect of salinity on germination and viability of wild Pistachio seed.

Seed sampling was done randomly and based on land unit map. Before germination test, stratification treatment was performed on seeds for 6 weeks in 4 °C. Germination test was done as factorial and completely randomized deign in tree repetition. After salinity treatments, seed germination, shoot length, root length and algometric ratio was measured.   

Results showed that salinity increasing was caused significantly decrease of seed viability, algometric ratio, root and stem length (p<0.01). Also, increase of salinity in deferent altitude levels was caused significantly decrease of seed viability. Results of algometric ratio in different height and slope classes showed that there was not significant difference in zero salinity level and this ratio was significantly higher in this level comparing to other levels.

Regarding to results of this research, increase of salinity causing decrease of Pistachio growth and germination. Pistachio seed germination is more in higher altitude, while in some species altitude have opposite effect.