Abstract

RUIZ, M.  and  TERENTI, O.. Comparative evaluation of four forage species under water stress and salinity conditions during germination. Agriscientia [online]. 2012, vol.29, n.2, pp.91-97. ISSN 1668-298X.

In Argentina, cultivated and non cultivated fodder plants are the main components of livestock production system. The expansion of agriculture over livestock producing regions has forced the livestock production system to move to areas with water deficits and salinity problems. The germination is a crucial process in the plant life and it is especially critical in arid regions and saline soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of water stress and salinity during germination in four forage species introduced in our country, namely Agropyron elongatum, Anthephora pubescens, Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum coloratum. Solutions of mannitol and NaCl with a potential osmotics of -0.5, -1, -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 MPa were used. The seeds were placed in germination paper, irrigated with 4ml of solutions and stored at 25ºC. The percentage and the speed of germination was calculated. In the four species, an increment of the solution concentration resulted in lower germination percentages. Cenchrus ciliaris was the most tolerant to water stress (induced with mannitol) and Panicum coloratum was the least tolerant to water stress and having the lowest percent of germination.

Keywords : Agropyron elongatum; Anthephora pubescens; Cenchrus ciliaris; Panicum coloratum.