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Abstract
Seeds of Acacia tortilis collected from 5 sites around the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates were germinated in 4 concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 20, 90 and 150 mM of NaCl). Percent of germination, rate of germination, seedling moisture content, root and shoot lengths and seedling lengths were all significantly affected by salt stress. Seeds collected from the different sites were significantly different in their response to salinity conditions. Variations in the response of seedlings from different sites to the different salt treatments suggest an underlying genetic variability within the A. tortilis populations, possibly resulting from variations in the prevailing local conditions. Urbanization in the area and the changing water table may have divided A. tortilis into distinct subpopulations that are significantly different in seedling characteristics and their response to saline conditions.
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References
- AMZALLAG, G.N, SELIGMAN, H and LERNER, H.R. 1995. Induced variability during the process of adaptation in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Experimental botany 46: 1017-1024.
- GUIRERA, M., SHROYER, J.P., KIRKHAM, M.B. and PAULSEN, G.M. 1997. Wheat coleoptile and root growth and seedling survival after dehydration and rehydration Agronomy Journal 89(5): 822-826.
- KOEHL, K. 1996. Population specific traits and their implications for the evaluation of drought-adapted ecotypes in Armeria maritime. Botanica Acta 109(3): 206-215.
- MAMO, T., RICHTER, C. and HEILIGTAG, B. 1996. Salinity effects on growth and ion content of some chickpea (Cicer areitinum L) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) varieties. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 176(4): 235-247.
- RAO, L.V., SUBBA, S.K. and VANISREE, G. 1997. Genetic variability for seedling characteristics among rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. Seed Research 24(2): 124-128.
- REHMAN, S, HARRIS, P.J.C., BOURNE, W.F. and WILKIN, J. 1996. The effect of sodium chloride on germination and potassium and calcium content of Acacia seeds. Seed Sci & Technology. 25: 45-57.
- SAAB, I.N., SHARP, R. E., PRITCHARD, J and VOETBERG, G.S. 1990. Increased endogenous abscisic acid maintains primary root growth and inhibits shoot growth in maize seedlings at low water potentials. Plant Physiology 93: 1329-1336.
- WESTERN, A. 1989. The Flora of The United Arab Emirates-An introduction. UAE University, Al Ain, U.A.E.
References
AMZALLAG, G.N, SELIGMAN, H and LERNER, H.R. 1995. Induced variability during the process of adaptation in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Experimental botany 46: 1017-1024.
GUIRERA, M., SHROYER, J.P., KIRKHAM, M.B. and PAULSEN, G.M. 1997. Wheat coleoptile and root growth and seedling survival after dehydration and rehydration Agronomy Journal 89(5): 822-826.
KOEHL, K. 1996. Population specific traits and their implications for the evaluation of drought-adapted ecotypes in Armeria maritime. Botanica Acta 109(3): 206-215.
MAMO, T., RICHTER, C. and HEILIGTAG, B. 1996. Salinity effects on growth and ion content of some chickpea (Cicer areitinum L) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) varieties. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 176(4): 235-247.
RAO, L.V., SUBBA, S.K. and VANISREE, G. 1997. Genetic variability for seedling characteristics among rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. Seed Research 24(2): 124-128.
REHMAN, S, HARRIS, P.J.C., BOURNE, W.F. and WILKIN, J. 1996. The effect of sodium chloride on germination and potassium and calcium content of Acacia seeds. Seed Sci & Technology. 25: 45-57.
SAAB, I.N., SHARP, R. E., PRITCHARD, J and VOETBERG, G.S. 1990. Increased endogenous abscisic acid maintains primary root growth and inhibits shoot growth in maize seedlings at low water potentials. Plant Physiology 93: 1329-1336.
WESTERN, A. 1989. The Flora of The United Arab Emirates-An introduction. UAE University, Al Ain, U.A.E.