Toxicity of the Salt and Pericarp Inhibition on the Germination of Some Atriplex Species

Abstract: This survey was led on the Atriplex that are some Xerohalophytes plants capable to evolve naturally in the salty ecosystems. However, in phase of germination, they stay sensible to salt stress as the remainder plants. During this test, we measured the answer of three different species of Atriplex to the salinity through certain parameters which are: rate of cumulated (RCG) germination, the middle time of germination (MTG) and the coefficient of the germination uniformity (CGU). We also tested some used treatments to break the dormancy that consisted to the imbibation or the decortication of the seminal pericarp. Results showed that the three studied species varied greatly between them, for their germinated faculty as well as to their answers to salt stress and to the treatment of the breaking dormancy. The weak values of the CGU have also marked the lots of the same seeds by a large variability during germination. Results have presented the local species A. halimus as the most tolerant to the salt stress and the least suffering to the problem of the pericarp inhibition. We have also noticed that the treatment of the breaking dormancy improved significantly the rate and the speed of germination. We also noted in all species, that beyond the dose of 8g/l of NaCl, the germination becomes more and slower until the total inhibition. These results can be exploited in programs of the rehabilitation of saline site Key words: Atriplex Germination Salt stress Pericarp inhibition Stepp