Salt stress and attenuation by growth regulators on the germination of mesquite

Abstract

The experiments were carried out in a growth chamber, with optimal temperature. The seeds of algaroba tree (Prosopis juliflora (Sw) D.C.) were floated in sulfuric acid during 30 seconds and put to germinate at optimum temperature and at different salt concentrations. The increase of NaCl concentration decreased final germination percentage, and at 700 mM NaCl the germination was absent. Salt stress could be partially alleviated by application of kinetin (10 and 20 ppm) and gibberellin (17 ppm). But at high salt stress (400 to 600 mM NaCI) the growth regulators did not produce stimulatory effect and the maximal range of tolerance was not extende.