Response of seed germination of Melilotoides ruthenica to drought stress and its drought resistance evaluation

The six kinds of germplasm materials of Melilotoides ruthenica from different ecological regions was used to evaluate their seed germination and seedling growth under simulation drought resistance condition with PEG solution. This study indicated that the seed germination rate, germination energy, germination index, vigor index, bud length, root length and seedling dry weight decreased, however, the ratio of root length and bud length gradually increased as the drought stress increased. Evaluation on drought resistance of M.ruthenica germplasms by using cluster analysis and subordination function method showed that the germplasm materials entitled 02972 derived from the Daqinggou Nature Reserve of Tongliao City, and the germplasm materials entitled 02988 and 03056 derived from the Right Tumete Banner of Baotou City had strong drought resistance and the germplasm materials entitled 02982 derived from the Wuchuang County of Hohhot City was poor for drought resistance.