biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 49:141-143, 2005 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-005-1143-x

Effects of salt stress on the reproductive biology of the halophyte Plantago crassifolia

M. Boscaiu^1,2, E. Estrelles², P. Soriano², O. Vicente^3,*

¹ Escuela Politécnica Superior de Gandia, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Gandía, Valencia, Spain

² Jardín Botánico, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

³ Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Floral phenology, pollen quality and seed set of Plantago crassifolia plants, grown in the presence of increasing NaCl concentrations, were studied to test how this Mediterranean halophyte responded to salt stress during the reproductive phase of its life cycle. "Reproductive success" was maximal in plants grown in non-saline conditions, or in the presence of 100 mM NaCl, but it was negatively affected by higher salinities, due to a progressive reduction of pollen fertility, seed set, and seed viability.

Keywords: flower development; pollen viability; pollen germination; seed set; seed germination

Subjects: flower; germination; halophytes; Plantago crassifolia; pollen germination; pollen viability, development, salt stress; salt stress, reproductive biology of a halophyte; seasonal changes, flower phenology, salt stress; seed, salt stress

Received: December 22, 2003; Accepted: August 20, 2004; Published: March 1, 2005  Show citation