Abstract of a paper based on work funded in part by the Australian Flora Foundation.

Effects of salinity levels and seed mass on germination in Australian species of Frankenia (Frankeniaceae)
Lyndlee C. Easton, Sonia Kleindorfer
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100,
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5001.
Environmental and Experimental Botany 65 (2009) 345–352    Grant details

Halophyte species demonstrate differing levels of salt tolerance. Understanding interspecific variation to
salinity levels is of value from both the scientific perspective, which includes the identification of traits
associated with salinity tolerance, as well as from an applied perspective, which includes identifying
plant species for specific salinity restoration and remediation projects. This paper investigates the effects
of salinity on germination of 12 Australian species of the plant genus Frankenia L. (Frankeniaceae). We use
saline solutions that corresponded to the average soil–water salinity concentrations in the arid zones of
inland Australia. These solutions consisted of 10mM calcium chloride, 30mM magnesium sulphate, and
450mM sodium chloride. The aims of our study were: (1) to investigate the germination (germination
rates, germination success) of Frankenia seeds to four salinity levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%), (2) to test for
possible interaction effects between seed mass, germination, and salinity, and (3) to examine the effect of
salinity levels on the inhibition of germination and/or seed damage. Species varied in their salt tolerance
for germination rates and success. Species with larger seeds had higher germination rates and germination
success for high salinity levels. Several species did not germinatewell at any salinity level. Finally, no seeds
were adversely affectedby exposure to high salinity levels pre-germination. There is potential for including
some Frankenia species in remediation and revegetation projects in areas affected by salinity, and also as
garden plants in saline regions.