HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Young, J. A. Articles by Evans, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Young, J. A. Articles by Evans, R. A. Agricola Articles by Young, J. A. Articles by Evans, R. A.

Germination of Great Basin Wildrye Seeds Collected from Native Stands¹

Great Basin wildrye (Elymus cinereus Scribn. & Merr.) is a valuable forage species adapted to saline/alkaline and upland soils on western North American rangelands. Currently, selections are being evaluated for release as cultivators. Germination under high osmotic stress is an important factor in these evaluations. We collected seeds from widely differing habitats and germinated them under osmotic potentials varying from 0 to –16 bars. Osmotic potentials were reduced either with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or NaCl. Under reduced osmotic potentials, germination was strongly negatively correlated with the electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium-absorption ratios (SAR) of the surface soils where the seeds had been produced. Seedling emergence and growth in a saline/alkaline soil (aquic Durorthidic Torrorthent) were better with seeds produced from plants growing on nonalkaline upland soils than from those growing on saline/alkaline soils. There was no marked correlation between germination with no osmotic stress, seed weight, or percent fill and the characteristics of the soil where the seeds had been produced. It would seem that plants of Great Basin wildrye adapted for growth on saline/alkaline soils produce seeds ill adapted for germination in this environment. Conversely, seeds produced from plants growing under nonalkaline conditions are more adapted to germinate in saline/alkaline soils.

Key Words: Saline/alkaline soils • Adaptation to saline/alkaline soils • Osmotic potentials • Eymus cinereus Scribn. & Merr.

² Range scientists, USDA, ARS, 920 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512.

Received for publication June 16, 1980.