Effects of seed treatments on the germination of Atriplex nummularia Lindl.

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the influence of length of soaking period and water temperature treatments on the germination of Atriplex nummularia. Germination percentages increased significantly (P≤0,01) with increasing soaking period in water with a temperature of 20°C, while there was a tendency for a decrease in germination at the higher water temperature (30°C) treatment. The fruits were almost fully imbibed after 8 days of soaking at both water temperature treatments. Fruits germinated better in pots than in petri dishes, but for naked seeds the opposite was the case. Some of the unexplained findings should be further investigated.