The interactive effect of light, temperature and salinity on seed germination of Haloxylon aphyllum L

Haloxylon aphyllum is a perennial shrub, adapted plant to arid area. It is as forage and employed to sand fixation and desert reclamation. Seed germination is a critical stage of species survival. To investigate the effect of light, temperature and salinity on seed germination a factorial experimental plan was performed in a complete randomized block design with four replications, light with two levels (light and darkness), temperature with 6 levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 ˚c) and salinity with 8 levels (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.2, 1.4 Mol/lit). No significant differences were observed between light and darkness respect to seed germination. Results showed that temperature regimes highly significantly effects on the germination percentage, germination rate, seedling dry weight and seedling length. The germination percentage, seedling dry weight and seedling length, increased with increase temperature levels from 5 to 25˚c but decreased at 30˚c. Salinity had high significant effect on the germination percentage, germination rate and seedling length. With an increase in salinity, there is a decrease in germination percentage, germination rate and seedling length. The germination stage of Haloxylon aphyllum seed sensitive to salinity and temperature of above 25˚c.