On the Ecophysiology and Seed Germination of Zygophyllum album Native to the Western Mediterranean Coastal Habitats in Egypt

This study was carried out to correlate Zygophyllum album L. distribution and abundance in different habitats to environmental factors, determine the optimum temperature for Z. album seed germination, and examine ways to promote Z. album seed germination under saline conditions. Vegetation and soil analyses were performed on Z. album communities found in costal sand dunes, saline depressions, and inland desert plain. Germination experiments were conducted to define the optimum thermal conditions for Z. album seeds under various salinity conditions. Effect of 3 mM gibberelic acid (GA3), 0.5 mM kinetin, 0.005 mM fusicoccin (FC) and 3.3 g L -1 Proxy solution was tested. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in addition to CaCO3, N, P, Ca and Mg contents were limiting factors in deciding vegetation types and the percentage of variation in the absolute density of Z. album. It was found that 3 mM GA3, 0.005 mM FC and 3.3 g L -1 Proxy solution increased speed and germination percentage of Z. Album under saline conditions in different ways. Proxy solution was the most effective growth regulator. Environmental differences among habitats had less significant effect compared with the microenvironmental factors within each habitat.