Atriplex polycarpa: I. Germination and Growth as Affected by Sodium Chloride in Water Cultures¹

Abstract

Atriplex polycarpa (Torr.) S. Wats. (desert saltbush) seed was found to have the same general range of salt tolerance during germination as the Australian saltbushes. Germination was severely reduced by solutions having osmotic potentials of —4.2 atmospheres or less. Growth of established seedlings, although reduced, was not inhibited by solutions having osmotic potentials of —25 atmospheres. Dry weight of plants in a given NaCl solution varied among populations indicating some populations are more salt tolerant than others. Root growth was somewhat correlated to top growth, however, salt restricted top growth more than root growth resulting in increased root/top ratios as the level of salinity increased. Only the highest concentration of NaCl used reduced 0root length. There was no correlation between percent moisture in top growth of desert saltbush and the osmotic potential of the water culture. Desert saltbush was found to be extremely tolerant of NaCl when grown under the conditions of this study.

Salt tolerance of salt marsh plants of Otago, New Zealand

“…It has been suggested that the shoot to root ratio changes with salinity (e.g., Chatterton & McKell 1969). The measurements made here showed no evidence for this.…”

A review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota

“…Studies on halophytes have also demonstrated that the salt tolerance of seeds differs between populations and between individuals of the same species (Beadle, 1952;Chatterton & McKell, 1969;Clarke & West, 1969).…”

Seedling Growth of Cassia tora, Cassia occidentalis and Cassia sophera in Relation to Salinity and pH

“…Shoot growth of Aster tripholium was the best at 1% NaCl [24]. In Atiplex polycarpa, salinity inhibited shoot growth more than the root growth [25].…”