International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 9(5): 1-8, 2016; Article no.IJPSS.14284 ISSN: 2320-7035 SCIENCEDOMAIN international www.sciencedomain.org Effect of Different Salt Concentrations on Germination and Seedling Growth of DIchondra (Dichondra repens ) Ya şar Özyigit 1* and Sadik Çakmakci 2 1Department of Horticulture, Akdeniz University, Korkuteli Vocational High School, Antalya, Turkey. 2Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author YÖ designed the study, performed laboratory experiments and made measurements. Author SÇ managed the statistical analyses and wrote the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/IJPSS/2016/14284 Editor(s): (1) Sławomir Borek, Faculty of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland. Reviewers: (1) Asghar Farajollahi, Gorgan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iran. (2) Mohamed Abdel-Ghany Aly Bekheta, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt. Complete Peer review History: http://sciencedomain.org/review-history/12576 Received 25 th September 2014 Accepted 13 th November 2014 Original Research Article th Published 5 December 2015 ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Akdeniz University in 2012. As a material the seeds of dichondra ( Dichondra repens ) which is a green area plant were used and the study was performed as randomized plots design with three replications in both plastic Petri dishes and peat media. Distilled water was used to prepare different NaCl concentrations (control, 5000, 7500, 10000, 15000, 20000 and 25000 ppm). The results showed that, germination was not observed in 20000 and 25000 ppm concentrations, so these doses were excluded from this study. While increasing salinity levels delayed the first germination day (first emergence day in peat experiment), germination rate (emergence rate in peat experiment), root length, shoot length, root weight, shoot weight and root/shoot ratio (both length and weight) characteristics decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. This study shows that, although some plant characteristics of dichondra is effected negatively by application of salinity levels, the plant has tolerance to a certain amount of salinity (approximately 5000-7500 ppm) in germination and seedling growth stage. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Özyigit and Çakmakci; IJPSS, 9(5): 1-8, 2016; Article no.IJPSS.14284 Keywords: Dichondra; salinity; germination; root; shoot. 1. INTRODUCTION Convolvulaceae and it can grow in warm-rainy climate. Also this plant adapt to shadow and Salinity is one of the main factors which has partially to arid area. But this plant is not resistant negative effects on plant production in many to step on and crush [11]. districts in the world. Soil salinization is an important problem especially in arid and semi- This study, involved 7 different salt concentration arid regions [1,2]. About 800 million hectares of were applied (5000, 7500, 10000, 15000, 20000 land which is over 6% of the world's total land and 25000 ppm) in addition to control (distile area are suffered from salinity stress, either by water). Distile water and common salt (no-iodine salinity (397 million ha) or the associated and 99.5% purity) were used to prepare salt condition of sodicity (434 million ha). Also, of the concentrations and 500 ml solution was prepare current 230 million ha of irrigated land, 45 million for each concentrations. Also electrical ha are salt-affected (20%). Of the 1.5 billion ha of conductivity (EC) value of solutions were land farmed by dryland agriculture, 32 million determined by using condactivity device (EC (2%) are affected by secondary salinity to varying meter) in 20-21 ⁰C. Salt amount and EC value of degrees [3]. However, based on salinity and solutions and salinity classification of this EC sodicity criteria used in Turkish Advanced Soil values according to Aydemir [12] are shown in Map surveys, salinity and sodicity were detected Table 1. on about 1.5 million ha of the land resource [4]. Study was conducted in laboratory conditions However, salinity is an important problem in both petri dish and peat. The experimental coastal area of the world. Because most of the design was a Random-Parcel design with three coastal aquifers in the world face to the problem replications. In petri experiments, plastic petri of saltwater intrusion due to excessive dishes (diameter is 9 cm) which were placed exploitation of groundwater that is primarily used blotting paper were used. After this process, 4.5 for urbanization, industrialization and agricultural ml solutions apply to petri dishes 3 replication for purposes [5]. Also seawaters inflow to rivers each salt concentrations and fifty seeds were which riverbeds in below sea levels. So, the use placed in to petri dishes. Petri dishes were of river water or groundwaters which near to closed and wrapped with paraffin and placed in riverbeds cause important salinity problem [6]. an incubator with the temperature of 20 ⁰C. Also salinity is an important problem in turf area. For example, soil salinity is one of the most In peat experiment, the styrofor viols were filled important problem in golf areas particularly in with thin-textured peat. Its pH, salt concentration, Mediterannean region [7] and salinity problem nitrogen rate, phosphorus rate and potassium reached to important level in golf areas which rate is 5.2-6, 0.3 mg.lt -1, 30-80 mg.lt -1, 20-40 and established in near the sea [8]. These areas are 30-90 mg.lt -1, respectively. For each salt extremly important for tourism, so increasing of concentration, 3 lines of viol were splited up and turf species which can adapt to salinity conditions each line included 8 seed bed and 9 ml solution is very important. was applied to each seed bed. After solution Plants in germination and seedling growth stages application, 1 seed were sown in each seed bed are more sensitive to high salt concentrations [9] with 1 cm sowing depth and viols placed in an and prevention of water uptake is important incubator with the temperature of 20 ⁰C. problem especially in germination stage. So, germination and seedling growth stages are In this study, measured germination properties more considered to determine effect of the and seedling growth are including: First salinity on plants [10]. The main objective of this germination day (day), germination percentage study was to determine the effects of different (%), root and shoot lenght (cm), root and shoot NaCl concentrations on seed germination and weight (g) and root/shoot rate (for lenght and seedling growth in dichondra ( Dichondra repens ) weight). Germination was calculated as the which is a turf area plant. number of seeds germinated (coleoptile emerged) as a percentage of the total number of 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS seeds pleaced in each petri. Germination observations were made in the same time Dichondra ( Dichondra repens ) seeds were used everyday and when least 5 seeds were fully as material in study. Dichondra is belong to germinated, this time was recorded as first 2 Özyigit and Çakmakci; IJPSS, 9(5): 1-8, 2016; Article no.IJPSS.14284 germination day in petri experiment. Also, Similar results were obtained from peat emergence day was determined instead of first experiment and earliest emergence was germination day in peat experiment and when 3 determined in control application with 3 days. seedlings were emerged on the peat, this time Emergences were delayed depend on increasing was recorded as first emergence day in peat of NaCl concentration and latest emergence experiment. At the end of the study, seedlings were obtained from 15000 ppm application with 6 were cut at root crown parts, when they are 3 days. Also, in peat experiment, while highest leaves stage and height and weight of roots and germination rate were determined in control shoots were determined. application with 100%, rates were reduced in high NaCl concentrations and lowest germination Data were analysed with PROC ANOVA rate was observed at 15000 ppm application. procedure in SAS statistical programe and differences between applications were statistical The results showed that high NaCl tested. Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was concentrations have negative effect on used for comparison of means. germination which is first grown stage of plants. Because water uptake prevented by osmotic 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION pressure in high NaCl concentration. Nizam [13] recorded that water uptake rate of perennial grass ( Lolium perenne ) seeds decreased in case In experiment, 7 different NaCl concentrations of NaCl concentration of solution in over 4 dS.m- were applied as specified in material and 1. Also in the same experiment, while highest methods divisions, but germination didn’t germination rate was determined as 96.5% in observation or germination physiology couldn’t control group, lowest rate was obtained as 20% complation at 20000 and 25000 ppm in 24 dS/m. In another study, Camberato and concentrations. So these concentrations were Martin [14] reported that germination percentage excluded in evaluation of results. Results of petri of rought bluegrass ( Poa trivialis L.) seeds and peat experiments are shown in