Effects of NaCl Stress on Seed Germination and Seedling Physiological Characteristics of Physalis alkekengiL. var. Franchetii

In this paper, the effects of different concentrations of NaCl on seed germination and seedling growth of Physalis alkekengi were studied. The results showed that with the increase of NaCl concentration, the germination rate, germination potential and relative germination rate decreased. In addition, the relative damage rate increased when the germination time was prolonged. Seedling plant height was inversely proportional to NaCl concentration, and the influence was not obvious in the early growth stage, but significant in the rapid growth stage. Compared with the control group, with the increase of NaCl concentration, the content of malondialdehyde in seedlings was firstly decreased and then increased, with the lowest and highest content at 20 mmol·L^-1 and 120 mmol·L^-1 respectively. And, the soluble sugar content first increased and then decreased, and reached the highest at 100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl, while the POD activity increased first and then decreased, and reached the maximum at 80 mmol·L^-1 NaCl. Further, NaCl could affect the seed germination and seedling growth of P. alkekengi, but P. alkekengi had certain salt resistance and could grow normally under the salt environment of less than 20 mmol·L^-1.