Morphology and growth variation of Agropyron smithii Rydb. (western wheatgrass) at different salinity levels

Authors

Rengen Ueng, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado
Ivo E. Lindauer, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the morphology and growth responses of Agropyron smithii Rydb. To various saline environments as evaluated in the laboratory. Agropyron smithii Rydb. (Rosana) seeds were germinated, transplanted into nutrient solutions with NaCl concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM, and grown for 80 days. Plant height, length of culm, and number of culms per plant were significantly reduced by the presence of NaCl in the nutrient solutions. As the external NaCl concentrations increased, values of root and plant ratio and leaf dry/fresh mass ratio increased significantly; biomass decreased significantly. However, the stomatal index, number of leaves per culm, and ratio of leaf length to leaf width were not significantly affected by the presence of NaCl.

Recommended Citation

Ueng, Rengen and Lindauer, Ivo E. (1993) "Morphology and growth variation of Agropyron smithii Rydb. (western wheatgrass) at different salinity levels," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 53: No. 4, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol53/iss4/6