EFFECTS OF FUNGICIDES ON SEEDLING AND ROOT GROWTH OF Suaeda Salsa

Suaeda salsa is an indicative plant for maintaining the ecology of salt-alkali soil, and has good economic and ecological value. In this study, the effects of five fungicides, Carbendazim, Benomyl, Chlorothalonil, Mancozeb, and Thiophanate-methyl on the seed germination and seedling growth of S. salsa were studied, and the effects on the root morphology of S. salsa were analyzed. The results showed that, except for Benomyl, the other four low concentration (0.1%) of fungicides could promote the seed germination, and Thiophanate-methyl had no negative effect on germination rate; all the five low concentration (0.1%) of fungicides could promote seedling growth and root growth of S. salsa; 0.1% Mancozeb had the fastest growth rate of plant height, followed by 0.1% Benomyl and 0.1% Carbendazim; low concentration (0.1%) Benomyl and Mancozeb promoted not only the root length but also the growth of lateral roots; high concentration fungicides had different inhibitory effects on the germination, root length and plant height. The promoting effects of low concentration (0.1%) of Carbendazim and Mancozeb on roots were through root length, root surface area, total root volume, and number of root tips, not root diameter, all of the fungicides at different concentrations had different inhibitory effects on average diameter of root. Compared with inhalant agents, protective agents had less negative impact on the growth of plants and had relatively higher environmental safety. Among the five fungicides tested, Mancozeb was the best one with the least negative impact.