Seed propagation strategy involving rapid germination with a high final percentage in two perennial clone plants in the taklimakan desert

Alhagi sparsifolia and Karilinia caspica are two important perennial clone plants of the Taklimakan Desert that also produce a large number of seeds every year. In their natural environment, the two species always reproduce asexually. It is necessary, from the perspective of both basic science and applied science (e.g. vegetation restoration), to explore why clone plants such as these produce seeds and under what conditions they become viable. Accordingly, in this study, the effects of light and temperature on germination and embryo stretch under five temperature treatments (15 degree C, 20 degree C, 25 degree C, 30 degree C and 35 degree C) and two light treatments (LIGHT/DARK and DARK) were investigated. Significant differences were detected in terms of the final germination percentage, germination rate, and the lengths of the plumule, radicle, and seedling, leading us to further investigate the germination strategies of the two plant species under the different light and temperature conditions. The results showed that both light and temperature had a significant effect on germination and embryo stretch in the two plants, yet they were not limiting factors. In shielding the adverse effects of external factors through use of an incubator, the two species' seeds showed a seed propagation strategy involving rapid germination with a high final germination percentage. (author)