Salinity effects on germination and seedlings biomass of pachycereus pecten-aboriginum: An endangered species

Abstract

Cacti are particularly sensitive to habitat disturbance since they have slow growth and a long life cycle. Their development and establishment depend on several factors, including environmental requirements for germination and establishment of seedlings. Two of the most influential factors are soil and water salinity. The objective of this study was to quantify seeds germination and seedling biomass production of the Aborigine’s comb cactus (Pachycerus pecten-aboriginum) in salt stress using sodium chloride (NaCl) as the main salt source. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design using six salt levels (0.11, 2.03,4.00, 6.03, 8.03 and 10.07 dS m-1) with five replicates of 20 seeds each one. The seeds were collected in a wild population of P. pecten-aboriginum in Ejido Álvaro Obregón, Baja California Sur, Mexico in June 2011. The results showed that germination and seedling biomass were significantly affected by salt stress, which was higher at 2.03 and 0.11 dS m-1, followed by 6.03 and 4.00 dS m-1, lower at 8.03 dS m-1, and no growth at 10.07 dS m-1. It is concluded that saline levels using sodium chloride as the main source of salt, affect seed germination and seedling biomass production of P. pecten-aboriginum significantly.