Effect of neutral and alkaline salt stresses on germination and seedling growth of Lycium ruthenium

Germination rate( Gr),germination potential( Gv),germination index( GI),vigor index( VI),relative salt injury rate,tissue water content,soluble protein content,chlorophyll content,conductivity,MDA and POD contents were determined to investigate the effect of neutral and alkaline salt stresses on germination and seeding growth of Lycium ruthenium Murr seed. The results indicated that minimum requirement of Na Cl and Na2CO3 were 50 mmol·L- 1and 2. 5 mmol·L- 1,and upper limit were 300 mmol·L- 1and 100 mmol·L- 1,respectively. Compared with the control( 88. 97%),the germination rates were 69. 17% and 71. 67%,water contents of seedling tissue were reduced to 56. 17% and 70. 27%. Maximum of soluble protein contents were 7. 09% and 7.73%. Chlorophyll contents were reduced from 1. 27 mg·g- 1to 0. 78 mg·g- 1and 0. 92 mg·g- 1. Conductivity increased from 25. 63% to 64. 77% and 74. 8%. MDA contents increased from 1. 5 μmol·g- 1to 6. 9 μmol·g- 1and 6. 5 μmol·g- 1. POD activity were decreased from 380. 4 U·g- 1·min- 1to 139. 2 U·g- 1·min- 1and 192. 7U·g- 1·min- 1. Being a halophyte,low concentration salt promoted the germination of Lycium ruthenium Murr.,but high concentration inhibited its germination. The result indicate that saline land which contains a certain concentration of alkaline salt is suitable for the growth of Lycium ruthenium Murr.