Effect of the temperature on the germination of seeds of certain spontaneous plants of the Saharan ecosystem in Algeria

摘要

The Saharan milieu in Algeria is characterized by fragile ecosystems. After any perturbation, the turning back to ecosystems' stability will be very slow. Pressure on the land and bio-resources has thus increased dramatically, particularly due to over-cultivation and over-grazing ( LeHouerou 2001 ). Moreover, the natural vegetation is increasingly cleared and definitively replaced by cereal crops and fallows (Ourcival et al 1994). Knowledge of the morphological and physiological characteristics of seed and its germination under various environmental conditions is vital for better utilization and management of this bio-resource. Little work has been done on the germination and growth of local Saharan plants of Algeria. The objective of this study isto investigate the effect of temperature and cold treatment on germination of saharan spontaneous plants. This information will be useful in providing basic information for the conservation of these species.