Morphological and Germination Characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar. Seeds Distributed in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61326/silvaworld.v3i2.282Keywords:
Desert plant, Germination , Seed morphologyAbstract
The Karakum Desert is the largest desert in Turkmenistan and covers a significant part of Central Asia. This desert is home to plant species that can adapt to hot, dry, and barren conditions. During the summer months, the Karakum Desert can get extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 50 °C, while in winter, it can drop to -20 °C. Therefore, the desert conditions significant seasonal temperature differences. In winter, rainfall is very low, snow rarely falls, and quickly melts. Afghan winds have an impact on the desert vegetation. The desert vegetation mainly consists of short grasses and woody shrubs. Despite the scarcity of rainfall and high temperatures during the summer months, steppe plants have generally been able to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert. There are also species that have adapted to the desert climate, such as Alhagi maurorum Boiss., Haloxylon persicum Bunge, Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin), Solanum nigrum L., and Salsola richteri Kar. These plants are highly valuable in terms of nutrition for animals and are used as winter animal feed in rural areas. In this study, the seed and germination characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar, which are tree and shrub-like plants that can adapt to Karakum Desert conditions, were examined. In laboratory study, the morphological characteristics of the seeds were determined, and vitality and germination tests were conducted. Information was obtained about the germination adaptation of these plants in desert ecosystems. As a result of the study, it was determined that S. richteri had a very low rate of viable seeds and no germination, while the germination process of Alhagi maurorum could take a considerably long time.
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