Seed viability, germination and dormancy of Nitraria roborowskii (Nitrariaceae)

• DOI: 10.15258/sst.2016.44.3.17
• Publication Date: 2017-01-06T18:28:22Z
• Authors: Y.J. Zeng; J.P. Wei; L. Yu; Y.R. Wang
• Keywords: 0211 other engineering and technologies; 02 engineering and technology

Nitraria roborowskii seeds were collected from plants in the desert of north-west China. Seed viability, germination response to temperature and dormancy characteristics were investigated. The tested seeds showed approximately 73% viability. The best values for germination percentage (GP), germination index and mean germination time were observed at 30 degrees C. The sub-optimum temperatures for germination were 35 C, 20/3 degrees C and 25/35 degrees C. Temperatures below 25 degrees C were unfavourable for seed germination. N. roboroWskii seeds showed widely dispersed germination patterns. The highest GP occurred after 13 days of incubation at 30 degrees C. The following parameters were recorded: thousand-seed weight, 44.96 g; drupe length, 7.08 mm; drupe width, 3.57 mm; putamen thickness, 0.95 mm; and pit number, 11.27 pits per drupe.