Evaluation of potential germination of echium seeds (Echium amoenum Fisch. & Mey.) in saline conditions

Salinity is one of the most important environmental factors that have negative effects on the germination، establishment and growth of plants and decrease the production of plants. To evaluate the effect of salinity on germination and seedling growth of echium، two separate experiments were conducted and the effects of different levels of salinity of natural and artificially made saline water (solution of NaCl+CaCl2) were examined on the germination of this plant. The experiments were carried out based on a completely randomized design with four replications. Treatments of this experiment consisted of different levels of salinity including (0، -3، -6، -9 and -12 bar)، which were، respectively. The results showed that different levels of salinity in two types of saline water had a significant effect on the components of germination (p ≤ 0. 01) and with increasing salinity levels، the amount and rate of germination and seedling growth (length and dry weight of radical and peduncle) declined. Of course، these traits decreased in natural saline water treatments far more than artificial saline water. Although echium seeds had 20% germination in salinity level -12 bar of NaCl+CaCl2 solution in natural saline water treatments، germination was negligible in salinity level -9 bar and completely stopped in salinity level -12 bar. Overall، the study showed that (1) echium plant seeds have germination ability in the salt environments، (2) germination rate depends on the type of salt composition in the growth environment، and (3) the inhibitory effect of natural saline water was far more than the NaCl+CaCl2 solution.