Effects of silicon on Agropyron cristatum seed germination under alkaline stress

In order to study the effects of silion on seeds germination of Agropyron cristatum cv. Tawukumu under alkaline stress, the seeds performance under alkaline +silicon treatments including five alkaline (NaHCO3) stress levels (10，30，60，90 and 120 mmolL-1) with 1.0 mmolL-1 Na2SiO3 solution were evaluated. The results showed that Na2SiO3 treatment significantly increased (P0.05) germination energy, germination percentage, seed germination index, vigor index, biomass of shoot and root and significantly reduced (P0.05) germination time. The results preliminary explained that silicon involved in the germination under alkaline stress，reduced osmotic stress and ion toxicity and enhanced seed resistance.