Messina (Melilotus siculus) cv. Neptune, an annual pasture legume native to the Mediterranean Basin, has recently been released for saltland pastures in southern Australia following demonstration of biomass production and persistence superior to other commercial pasture legumes in saline environments prone to winter waterlogging. Self-regenerating annual pasture legumes also require seed adaptations for both tolerating and avoiding salinity at germination in these environments. This study examined diversity within Neptune and 20 other messina accessions for salt tolerance at germination, recovery of germinability from temporary salt stress, and timing and extent of hardseed softening, compared with balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) cv. Frontier, burr medic (Medicago polymorpha) cv. Scimitar and white melilot (Melilotus albus) cv. Jota. Germination rates after 14 days at 300 mM NaCl relative to 0 mM NaCl were ≥99% for Neptune and 18 other messina accessions, 66% for Scimitar, 21% for Jota and 11% for Frontier. No genotype germinated at 600 mM NaCl; however, when transferred to 0 mM NaCl after 14 days at 600 mM, all genotypes except Scimitar and Jota recovered partial germination, ranging from 13% to 93% of controls (0 mM NaCl for 28 days). The softening rate of hard (impermeable) seeds in the field varied among genotypes, with deferral of hardseed softening until late autumn–early winter, when rainfall is more likely, indicating greater persistence. The months in which the hardseed level first became significantly lower than the initial level (in freshly harvested seeds) after placement on the soil surface in December were: March for Frontier; April for Scimitar, Jota and Neptune; and March–July for all messina accessions. This study confirmed that messina has high salt tolerance and several avoidance mechanisms at germination that contribute to its adaptation to saline soils in southern Australia. Several messina accessions were superior to Neptune for individual traits which could be exploited for plant breeding. These results also have implications for saltland pastures in other regions of the world with Mediterranean-type climates.

墨西拿 ( Melilotus siculus ) cv。海王星是一种原产于地中海盆地的一年生牧草豆科植物，最近在澳大利亚南部的盐地牧场放牧，因为在易受冬季淹水的盐碱环境中生物质生产和持久性优于其他商业牧草豆类。自我再生的一年生牧草豆类还需要种子适应，以在这些环境中在发芽时耐受和避免盐分。这项研究检查了海王星和其他 20 种墨西拿种质在发芽时的耐盐性、从暂时盐胁迫中恢复发芽性以及硬种子软化的时间和程度，与巴兰萨三叶草 ( Trifolium michelianum ) cv.相比的多样性。边疆，毛刺医生（紫花苜蓿) cv. 弯刀和白色 melilot ( Melilotus albus） 简历。乔塔。相对于 0 mM NaCl，在 300 mM NaCl 相对于 0 mM NaCl 的 14 天后，海王星和 18 个其他墨西拿种质的发芽率≥99%，Scimitar 为 66%，Jota 为 21%，Frontier 为 11%。没有基因型在 600 mM NaCl 下萌发；然而，当在 600 mM 14 天后转移到 0 mM NaCl 时，除 Scimitar 和 Jota 之外的所有基因型都恢复了部分发芽，范围为对照的 13% 至 93%（0 mM NaCl 持续 28 天）。田间硬（不透水）种子的软化率因基因型而异，硬种子软化延迟到深秋至初冬，此时降雨更有可能，表明更持久。在 12 月将硬种子放置在土壤表面后，硬种子水平首次显着低于初始水平（在新鲜收获的种子中）的月份是： 边境 3 月；四月为弯刀，约塔和海王星；3 月至 7 月为所有梅西纳加入。这项研究证实，messina 具有高耐盐性和发芽时的几种避免机制，有助于其适应澳大利亚南部的盐渍土壤。几个messina种质的个体性状优于海王星，可用于植物育种。这些结果也对世界其他地中海型气候地区的盐地牧场有影响。