Effect of salinity and temperature on germination characteristics of Prosopis spicigera and P.juliflora

In this study، the germination characteristics of Prosopis spicigera and P. juliflora were studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity on germination of these species at two different temperatures. So seeds of these two species were collected from Kangan region in Boushehr peovince. Seeds were treated with 0، 200، 300، 400 and 600 mM of NaCl at 25˚C and 35˚C. Daily and final germination percentages were recorded and germination velocity was calculated. The results showed that high salinity caused decrease in final germination percentage and germination velocity of both species. Salinity of 200 mM and temperature of 35˚C is the optimum condition for germination of P. juliflora. The highest difference of germination percentage of these two species occurred between 300 - 400 mM، and it was concluded that according to low soil salinity in study area، P. spicigera planting as a native species has more priority. P. juliflora is more tolerant to salinity and can be used in harsh environmental condition of southern parts of Iran، like costal line، which no native species can be established.