XVI International Botanical Congess

Potential of desert halophytes for phytoremediating soil salinity has attracted the attention of plant biologists in recent past. A laboratory experiment was conducted on seeds of four plant species of hot Indian desert viz. Atriplex nummularia Lindl, Haloxylon recurvum (Moq) Bunge ex Boiss, Salsola baryosma (R&S) Dandy and Suaeda nudiflora Moq. It was observed that seed germination and seedling growth stages were very sensitive to salinity and osmotic stresses. Seed germination, seedling length and vigour were reduced by increasing salinity and osmotic stresses. None of these species was found tolerant to such environmental adversities at early states of plant development under laboratory conditions. Data indicated that Haloxylon showed highest seed germination (73.667%) under simulated salinity followed by Salsola (62.333%), Suaeda (59.667%) and Atriplex (45.000%). The seedling vigour index of Haloxylon was highest (8.700) followed by Suaeda (4.218), Salsola (3.15) and Atriplex (0.708). With respect to overall laboratory performance, Haloxylon proved best performer than other species. Prospective applications of such data for phytoremediation of soil salinity in hot Indian desert have been discussed.