Effect of salinity on germination and viability of nondormant seeds of the federal-threatened species Aeschynomene virginica (Fabaceae)

Concentrations of NaCl higher than 1.0% (ca. 0.8MPa) caused a significant decrease in germination percentage of seeds of Aeschynomene virginica, and only 5.3% of the seeds germinated on filter paper moistened with a 2.0% (ca. 1.7MPa) NaCl solution. Incubating seeds in 2.0% NaCl for 5 days or longer caused a significant decline in germination/viability, and all seeds incubated for 20 or 30 days lost viability. These responses of A. virginica seeds to salinity are similar to those of other nonhalophytes and, therefore, help explain the absence of sensitive joint-vetch from brackish marshes.