Abstract
The effect of salinity on the seed germination and seedling growth of Pinus densiflora for. erecta Uyeki were studied under the controlled conditions in the growth chamber. The seeds were sorted into three classes in weight such as large ($15.49\pm$1.63mg), medium($10.61\pm$1.38mg), and small ($6.57\pm$1.33mg) to determine the role of seed weight in germination and seedling growth of the pine. Polymorphic seeds of the pine were germinated an salinity range of 0 to 1.5% NaCl under various temperature ($10^{\circ}$ $-25^{\circ}$ with $5^{\circ}$C interval of constant temperature, and $10^{\circ}$ $-20^{\circ}$C, $15^{\circ}$ $-25^{\circ}$C of alternating temperature) in order to determine their germinability and seeding growth. In control plot, there was little difference of germination percentage among the seed weight classes, but in saline plot, the larger seeds generally had a higher percentage and rate of germination. There occurred synergistic interaction between salinity and temperature in the germination and the increase of temperature enhanced germination of seeds at the same salinity level. Alternating temperature regimes of $15^{\circ}$-$25^{\circ}$C yielded maximum germination and no germination was occurred at $10^{\circ}C$. The germination at alternating temperature showed higher germination percentage than at constant temperature. The percentage and of germination decreased drastically with increased salinity level to 1.00%; no germination was occurred at 1.50% salinity level. The growth fo sddelings from larger seeds was better than that of smaller seeds at the same salinity and temperature. The hypocotyl and radicle were more sensitive than cotyledon to the increased salinity stress.
(Dept. of Biology, College of Natural Science, Kon Kuk Univ)
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