HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (24) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Noe, G. B. Articles by Zedler, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Noe, G. B. Articles by Zedler, J. B. Agricola Articles by Noe, G. B. Articles by Zedler, J. B.

Differential effects of four abiotic factors on the germination of salt marsh annuals¹

⁰ Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-1870 USA

Interspecific differences in responsiveness to temperature, photoperiod, soil salinity, and soil moisture confirm the hypothesis that abiotic factors differentially affect the germination of salt marsh plants. In growth chamber experiments, four of eight annual species responded to small differences in temperature or photoperiod. Increasing soil salinity decreased the final proportion of seeds germinating and slowed germination for each of the seven species tested. Higher soil moisture increased the proportion germinating of five species and germination speed of all seven species. Salinity and moisture interacted to affect the proportion germinating of five species and germination speed of all seven species. Although the abiotic factor with the largest effect on germination varied among species, more species responded to, and the magnitudes of the responses were larger for, soil salinity than for the other abiotic factors. These germination tests partially explained interspecific differences in the timing of germination in the field. Patterns of Hutchinsia procumbens, Lythrum hyssopifolium, Parapholis incurva, and possibly Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri germination in response to a nonseasonal rainfall could be explained by their response to salinity, temperature, or photoperiod. Fine-scale differences in the timing of establishment within the typical germination window and spatial distributions along salinity and moisture gradients were not explained.

Key Words: germination • moisture • photoperiod • salinity • salt marsh annual plants • temperature

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Wetson, C. Cassaniti, and T. J. Flowers Do Conditions During Dormancy Influence Germination of Suaeda maritima? Ann. Bot., June 1, 2008; 101(9): 1319 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Espinar, L. V. Garcia, and L. Clemente Seed storage conditions change the germination pattern of clonal growth plants in Mediterranean salt marshes Am. J. Botany, July 1, 2005; 92(7): 1094 - 1101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Khan and S. Gulzar Light, salinity, and temperature effects on the seed germination of perennial grasses Am. J. Botany, January 1, 2003; 90(1): 131 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]