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The possibility of manipulating calcium (Ca2+) and potassium (K+) levels in seeds of Brassica rapa by altering parent plant nutrition and investigating the potential for increased salinity tolerance during germination, given that considerable amounts of literature imply that greater amounts of available exogenous Ca2+ and K+ can ameliorate the effects of salinity on both whole plant growth and germination, was evaluated. The investigation consisted of four growth trials. Two preliminary growth trials suggested that seed ion manipulation was possible without affecting the overall growth and vigour of the plant. After developing suitable high and low Ca2+ and K+ nutrient solutions for growth, a trial was carried out in a growth room and greenhouse, with various substrates and the seed of a certain size category was collected for subsequent ion and salinity tolerance analysis. Seed Ca2+ and K+ was significantly affected by growth substrate and nutrient solution and data showed that a significant negative regression relationship existed between seed Ca2+, K+ and Ca2+ + K+ levels and salinity tolerance. Further experimentation using hydroponic culture attempted to remove any possible effects of substrate and also to compare size categories of seed with a view to elucidating localisation of Ca2+ and K+. Seed Ca2+ was found to be significantly altered by nutrient solution in the two different sizes tested and higher Ca2+ nutrient solution was found to increase salinity tolerance in daughter seed. One significant negative regression correlation between salinity tolerance and seed K+ concentration existed in smaller seed, but disregarding seed size in a regression analysis of seed ion content and salinity tolerance, a significant negative relationship existed between seed Ca2+, K+ and Ca2++ K+. The results, especially in terms of Ca2+ nutrition, contradict much previous research that suggests increased salinity tolerance at germination can arise with the increased presence of Ca2+ and/or K+. Salinity tolerance was greater in seeds of larger size across all nutritional treatments and the smaller size range exhibited increased Ca2+ and K+ per μg seed. Ca2+ concentration in smaller seeds with greater surface area:volume ratios provided a clue to the potential localisation of Ca2+. Cross sectional staining showed that a greater proportion of seed Ca2+ may reside in the coat. This was confirmed by analysis which showed an approximate 50% split of total extractable seed Ca2+, regardless of size, between coat and embryo within a seed; the majority of which, per μg, resides in the coat. Further work looked at the relative solubility of the Ca2+ and K+ in these tissues and whole seed to look at the potential bioavailability of Ca2+ during germination from various parts of the seed. Most water soluble Ca2+ exists in the embryo and most insoluble Ca2+ exists in the coat, but coat Ca2+ was found to be ionically exchangeable and therefore bioavailable. K+ appeared mostly water soluble in embryo and coat. In line with previous whole plant research in this species, most Ca2+ is readily water soluble or ionically exchangeable in form and the possible negative effects of how increasing bioavailable Ca2+ may reduce salinity tolerance was discussed.

The grain amaranths, Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus have been promoted as grain-bearing plants of possible high productivity in saline or hot arid habitats. To investigate these claims, seeds of both species were germinated at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°centigrade. Germination percentage for both species was above 90% after four days at 20, 25, 30, and 35°C. Germination was negligible at 10 and 15°C and very low at 40°C. Seeds were germinated in isotonic solutions of PEG and NaCl at 0.0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.5, -0.6, -0.8, and -1.0 MPa osmotic potential at 30°C. Germination percentage was high in the range 0.0 to -0.4 MPa and dropped rapidly to zero in the -0.6 to -1.0 MPa range. Differences due to chemical effects were significant. Species differences were not. Radicles and hypocotyls were measured after six days in the above media. PEG was more inhibitory of seedling growth than was NaCl and generally inhibited A. cruentus more than A. hypochondriacus. This was also true of NaCl. All growth functions were slightly inhibited at 0.0 to -0.4 MPa and very inhibited above -0.6 MPa. PEG radically increased root/shoot ratio in both species.

xxi, 299 leaves : ill. ; 25 cm / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.1976) from the Dept. of Plant Physiology, University of Adelaide

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of four salt concentrations and four acid levels of soil solution on the germination of Quercus emoryi and Robinia neo-mexicana seeds, and to study the effects of the cation concentration changes in solution (Na, Ca, Mg, K) and exchangeable cation concentration. The solution extracts and exchange phases of both soils, salt accumulation in the soil increased by increasing the salinity and acidity of the water applied. Exchangeable sodium was related directly to the SAR of the applied solutions. The soil responded differently to the salty water and acid water. Both soil treatments released Ca, Mg and K to the soil solution from the dissolution of the primary minerals and cation exchange reaction.

In many acid, highly leached South African soils, Na levels are very low. Applications of Na to highly leached soils may be advantageous in some situations as Na has been shown to interact with soil acidity, P availability, and K nutrition of plants. It was found that an increased level of Na at constant anion concentration in the soil solution resulted in lower soil solution pH and Al3 + activity, and improved maize root penetration into an acid subsoil (pot trial). In another pot trial, Na did not improve lucerne root growth into the same subsoil. In a field trial on a limed, low-Na soil with severe subsoil acidity, the effects off our rates of Na, three Na carriers, and three rates of gypsum on maize growth were compared. In three out of four seasons grain yield responses to the Na applications were positive, and of a similar magnitude to the response to gypsum (455-925 kg ha). In another field trial with maize, responses to Na (of up to 1027 kg grain ha) were recorded in two out of three years on plots with topsoil acid saturations of greater than 45%. The reason for the responses to Na was probably improved subsoil rooting as a result of modified soil solution composition in the presence of Na. In a field trial with Italian rye grass on an acid, highly weathered soil, the effect of sodium applications were investigated at different levels of lime and K. In the first season, 200 kg ha Na as NaCl increased dry matter yield from 11289 kg ha to 12815 kg ha , Sodium responses were possibly due to enhanced P uptake, or Na substitution for K, or a combination of the two mechanisms. No consistent lime x Na interaction was observed. Potassium and Na applications affected the mineral balance of the herbage produced. Potassium depressed herbage Ca, Mg and Na concentrations, and Na depressed herbage Ca and Mg where herbage K was low, but had no effect on herbage K. Where soil P and K reserves are marginal, rye grass pastures may benefit from Na applications. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

Soil salinity and the arid climate in Libya are major constraints in agriculture and predominantly in foodstuff production which are limiting wheat production and yield. The effect of pre-sowing seed treatments with 50 mM of KCl, NaCl, CaCl2, and distilled water as hydropriming on germination and early seedling growth in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars S-24 (tolerant) and Slambo (untested before) under 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl concentrations was examined. CaCl2 was the only priming treatment that significantly improved the germination percentage, germination rate, and mean germination time in both cultivars under almost all NaCl concentrations. Thus, priming with CaCl2 was selected for further experiments. In the greenhouse, seeds primed with 50 mM of CaCl2 also improved the emergence percentage, emergence rate, shoot and root length, and fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of both cultivars under all NaCl concentration except at 300 mM where the emergence was completely inhibited. The response of wheat cultivars to three compost treatments including cow manure compost (CC), greenwaste compost (GC) and 50:50 mixture (mix) between them and sand at percentage inclusions of 10 and 30 % by weight under 0, 100, 200, and 300 mM of NaCl was also investigated. Among all compost treatments, 30% GC and 30% mix were the best treatment and improved almost all growth parameters under salt stress, and 30% GC was also the only treatment that had any emergence at 300 mM NaCl. 30% GC and 30% mix were selected for further experiments. The effect of the combination of the selected priming agent (CaCl2) and the best two compost treatments (30% GC and 30% mix) on the emergence and early seedling growth of both cultivars was tested. The results showed that all the treatments enhanced plant growth parameters including seedling ion uptake in both cultivars, with preference to primed seeds sown in 30% GC. The treatments had the following order of the performance of both cultivars under salt stress. Primed seeds sown in 30% GC > unprimed seeds sown in 30% GC > primed seeds sown in 30% mix > unprimed seeds sown in 30% mix. This enhancement is possibly due to the provision of Ca2+ and / or the improvement in the availability of water as both of them were improved by the application of priming and compost.