Salinity Tolerance in Prairie Cordgrass (Spartina Pectinata. L.): Seed Germination and Growth.

Prairie cordgrass (Spartina Pectinata. L) of perennial C₄ grass have a potential on feedstock biomass for bioenergy crop. It may need information on its response of salinity for establishment like marginal land such as saline region. In this study, prairie cordgrass was tested seed germination and growth in comparison to switchgrass by salinity with NaCl gradient. In germination test with NaCl ranged from 0 to 400 mM NaCl, germination rate of prairie cordgrass was not affected by 100 mM NaCl, and reduced about 60% in comparison to the control at 400 mM NaCl. In contrast, that of switchgrass decreased instantly by salinity and reduced about 94% at 400 mM NaCl. Also, germination of prairie delayed less than that of switchgrass by NaCl gradients. In greenhouse pot tests by salinity ranged from 0 to 500 mM NaCl, prairie cordgrass and switchgrass were possible at 200, 100 mM NaCl of maximum salinity for its survival by maturity stage, respectively. Although growth of below and shoot decreased, below tissue and shoot of prairie cordgrass was higher than that of switchgrass. The below tissue /shoot mass ratio was increased in prairie cordgrass by NaCl gradient, but was decreased in switchgrass. As increased NaCl concentration, Na content in below tissue and shoot increased, but K, Ca, and Mg content decreased. Na and K concentration of prairie cordgrass in shoot was less than that of switchgrass, Na/K ratio was similarly between two species at final NaCl concentration for its survival. The results indicate that prairie cordgrass have more tolerance on salinity compared to switchgrass because it may be characteristics of halophyte such as Na excretion from leave of prairie cordgrass. Therefore, prairie cordgrass could be reasonable alternative for establishment in marginal land