Abstract: Different regimes of germination temperature at night and day, storage temperature and duration, and salt concentration were installed to study the characteristics of the seed germination and embryonic growth of Spartina alterniflora. Under the same germination temperature, the seed germination was not affected by light or dark, and the optimal temperature for germination was 16/26 ℃ (night/day), with a germination rate>90%. At the storage temperature -5, 0, 5, and 10 ℃, the germination rate of the seeds after 120 days storage exceeded 74%, indicating that S. alterniflora seeds could safely overwinter. When the salt concentration was 75-225 mmol NaCl ·L^-1, the germination rate was >90%. The optimal salt concentration for embryo growth was 150 mmol NaCl·L^-1. The growth of coleoptile and hypocotyl occurred before that of plumule and radicle, and the inhibition effect of salt on the growth of hypocotyl and coleoptile was smaller than that on radicle and plumule growth, which made the seedlings quickly unearth and well adapt the intertidal environment.

Key words: Qilian Mountains, Moss-Picea crassifolia forestry, Shrub-Picea crassifolia forestry, Soil water