DOI: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261404.15 ISSN: 2330-8591

Study on Provenance Variation in Phenotypic Traits and Salt Tolerance of Ulmus pumila Seeds

Yun Liang, Xiaochen Qin, Muzheng Hao, Hao Jiao, Peili Mao, Chen Su, Qingshan Yang, Xiaojun Lu, Zilong Zhang, Junlu Wang, Yongtao Li
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Ulmus pumila , as a pioneer tree species for afforestation in saline-alkali soils in northern China, exhibits drought and salt tolerance, rapid growth, and strong adaptability. It performs well in saline soils with salt content ≤0.45% and demonstrates significant effectiveness in soil improvement for coastal saline-alkali lands. However, research on the phenotypic-salt tolerance synergistic response patterns and comprehensive evaluation of Ulmus pumila seeds at the seed source scale remains limited. To select superior Ulmus pumila provenances suitable for saline-alkali land, this study examined seed trait characteristics of 11 geographical provenances, along with their germination performance and early seedling growth under salt stress [0 (CK), 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, and 1.2% NaCl solutions], and assessed the salt tolerance of each provenance. The results revealed significant differences among provenances in 1,000-seed weight, longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter, and their ratio. The Tai’an provenance exhibited the highest 1,000-seed weight, while the Nanjing provenance showed the lowest. With increasing salt concentration, seed germination, seedling growth, and root development were significantly inhibited, with notable differences observed among provenances. Among these, the Linqu provenance demonstrated the strongest germination capacity and the most robust root development. Correlation analysis indicated that 1,000-seed weight was significantly positively correlated with germination capacity, and seedling biomass was highly significantly positively correlated with germination level and root development. Based on a comprehensive evaluation using the membership function method, the salt tolerance of the 11 provenances was ranked as follows: Linqu > Tai’an > Harbin > Xingtai > Xianyang > Baicheng > Baiyin > Changyi > Nanjing > Taiyuan > Liaocheng.

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