Seeds of Halopeplis perfoliata display plastic responses to various abiotic factors during germination

Abstract Halopeplis perfoliata is a coastal marsh halophyte with several ecological and economic usages. Information about seed germination ecology of Halopeplis species is limited. Germination and recovery responses to NaCl (0, 0.1–0.6 mol L −1 ), light (12 h light/12 h dark and 24 h dark), alternating temperature regimes (10/20, 15/25, 20/30 and 25/35 °C), NaCl exposure time (20, 40 and 60 days) and dormancy regulating chemicals (DRCs) were therefore studied. Fresh seeds were non-dormant and showed highest germination (≈90%) in distilled water, irrespective of incubation temperature. Seeds germinated better in 12 h photoperiod than 24 h dark. Salinity increment decreased germination; however some seeds could germinate in 0.6 mol L −1 NaCl under 12 h photoperiod. High salinity (≥0.3 mol L −1 NaCl) and 24 h dark enforced dormancy in seeds and they showed high recovery when transferred to distilled water and to light respectively. Seeds showed enforced dormancy under hyper-salinity (up to 2.0 mol L −1 NaCl) at all temperature regimes except at 25/35 °C where seed mortality was high. All DRCs (except proline) alleviated enforced dormancy due to dark but were generally ineffective in reversing inhibitory effects of salinity. Our data indicate that seeds of H. perfoliata are sensitive to variations in different abiotic factors, which may thus act as possible cue for germination in its habitats. Results of DRC application indicate that germination inhibition under high salinity and dark might be due to osmotic and biochemical reasons respectively.