There is limited information about the importance of seed origin, thermoperiod, and photoperiod on low water potential tolerance during seed germination of habitat-indifferent plants, which grow well in saline and non-saline habitats. This study examined the effects of seed provenance, water potential, thermoperiod, photoperiod, and their interactions on seed germination of the multipurpose exotic tree Prosopis juliflora. Seeds from saline and non-saline habitats were germinated under various water potential levels at different thermoperiods and photoperiods. Seeds could endure up to −1.5 MPa water potential irrespective of origin. Germination of seeds from saline habitats was higher than those from non-saline habitats in −1.5 MPa. At 0 and -0.3 MPa, seeds germinated in a thermoperiod-insensitive manner in light. At < -0.6 MPa, however, a higher thermoperiod was more inhibitory for germination. Seeds germinated better under dark than light conditions under low water potential and high thermoperiod. Most ungerminated seeds from different lower water potential treatments recovered their germination when transferred to distilled water. This study demonstrated that the low water potential tolerance of P. juliflora seeds depends on seed origin, thermoperiod, and photoperiod. These factors should be considered when selecting a seed lot for afforestation of P. juliflora in different soil types.

关于在盐碱地和非盐碱地生长良好的无生境植物种子萌发过程中种子起源、温度周期和光周期对低水势耐受性的重要性的信息有限。本研究考察了种子来源、水势、温度周期、光周期及其相互作用对多用途外来树Prosopis juliflora种子萌发的影响. 来自盐碱地和非盐碱地的种子在不同温度周期和光周期的不同水势水平下发芽。无论来源如何，种子都可以承受高达 -1.5 MPa 的水势。在-1.5 MPa 时，含盐生境的种子发芽率高于非盐生生境的种子。在 0 和 -0.3 MPa 时，种子在光照下以对热周期不敏感的方式发芽。然而，在 < -0.6 MPa 时，较高的温度周期对发芽的抑制作用更强。在低水势和高热周期条件下，种子在黑暗条件下比光照条件下发芽得更好。大多数来自不同低水势处理的未发芽种子在转移到蒸馏水中时恢复了它们的发芽。该研究表明，P. juliflora的低水势耐受性种子取决于种子来源、热周期和光周期。在选择不同土壤类型的胡桃造林种子批次时，应考虑这些因素。