EFFET DE LA CONTRAINTE SALINE SUR LA GERMINATION ET LA CROISSANCE DE QUELQUES PROVENANCES ALGERIENNES D’ARGANIER (Argania spinosa L.)

Abstract

In arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean basin, the salinization of the soil constitutes one of the most important abiotic factors limiting plant growth and the productivity for many cultures. The introduction of tolerant plants to salinity is one of the techniques recommended to develop the soil touched by this phenomenon. The argan belonged to these species with great potential. This work aimed to compare the comportment of three provenances of argan collected from Tindouf and subjected to the saline stress since the stage of germination. The seeds coming from Merkala, Oued-Bouyhadine and Oued-El Gahaouane. The saline constraint was induced by the application of various NaCl concentrations: 0; 4; 8 and 16 g.l -1. The effect of the saline stress on germination showed a variability of tolerance between the various provenances tested. The seeds resulting from Oued Bouyadhine are most resistant to salt, where the rate of germination was about 66.7 % in the presence of the highest salt concentration tested. Therefore, the effect of saline constraint on the growth of young sowings was analyzed. Results showed that the different growth parameters studied, vary according the provenance studied. Indeed, the aerial part is more sensitive to salt than the root part for all provenance tested. Moreover, the provenance of Merkala is shown most sensitive to the salinity stress.