Effect of Na2CO3 stress on seed germination of Elymus sibiricus cv. Tongde and Puccinellia tenutiflora

The seed germination rate, radical and plumule growth of Elymus sibiricus cv. Tongde and Puccinellia tenutiflora were observed under different concentrations of Na2CO3 solution (0,5,10,20,30,50,75 mmol/L) in lab. The results showed that as the concentration of Na2CO3 solution reached a certain value (50 mmol/L for E. sibiricus cv. Tongde and 20 mmol/L for P. tenutiflora), the seed germination rate was significant inhibited. The radical length negatively correlated with Na2CO3 concentration. Low concentration of Na2CO3 promoted the bud growth, while the high concentration had inhibitory effect but it was not significant. This suggested that the resistance of E. sibiricus cv. Tongde to Na2CO3 stress was stronger than P. tenutiflora.