Germination of F1 Buffelgrass hybrids under salinity by sodium chlorideo

Abstract

Buffelgrass Pennisetum ciliare L. has been reported in Africa, Australia, Argentina, United States and Mexico as a drought tolerant grass, good forage and seed producer, soil improver grazed by all kind of livestock. A common problem in semiarid zones is excessive amount of salts in the soil mainly sodium chloride (NaCl). The aim of the study was to learn during germination the response of F1 buffelgrass hybrids to salinity by NaCl. After eight years of storage of burs of nine buffelgrass hybrids, naked caryopsis were tested for germination in May and September in distilled water with 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 thousand parts per million (ppm) of NaCl. Four commercial varieties were included in bot experiments. Fifty caryopsis of each genotype were put in Petri dishes and checked over four weeks in a Seedsburo germinator chamber set to 24-26°C temperature and 8-16 hours of light-darkness. Number of sprouted caryopsis and normal seedlings were recorded daily; germination data were used to calculate index of speed germination using Maguire ́s formula. Sprouted caryopsis (germination), number of normal seedlings and IVG ́s were higher in May and significant differences were found among genotypes but not for NaCl concentrations, in September, significant differences were found among genotype and NaCl concentrations for all three variables. Germination and speed of germination were the least and more effected by NaCl respectively. Five of six correlations coefficients among variables were positive and significant. It was concluded that life span of naked caryopsis, frequency of normal seedlings, speed germination and NaCl tolerance can be improved by selection.