SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF TWO DESERT PLANT SPECIES (<em>PROSOPIS</em> <em>JULIFLORA</em> AND <em>BLEPHARIS</em> <em>SINDICA</em>) GROWN UNDER UNIFORM EDAPHIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

Prosopis juliflora and Blepharis sindica, collected from different sites at the Karachi University Campus, showed significant variations in plant growth when grown under uniform environmental conditions. Blepharis sindica developed from site A showed better growth parameters (leaf number, plant height, root/shoot ratio) compared to site B, while plants developed from site C showed intermediate growth. Seedlings of P. juliflora collected from site B showed a significantly lower leaf number (p<0.001) but better plant biomass (more root dry weight and shoot dry weight) than those from sites A and C. Low plant height of B. sindica from site B led to its low shoot dry weight. Seedling survival of B. sindica and P. juliflora from site B was seriously affected by their low leaf numbers, and in the case of the former species, by its low plant height However, the plant height of P. juliflora did not differ significantly among seedlings from the three sites. Blepharis sindica also showed significant differences (p<0.01) in plant circumference. The results indicate that P. juliflora from site B and B. sindica from site A gave the best growth response in their new habitat. These results are not only important in understanding the influence of edaphic factors on plant growth, but would also provide useful information about the adaptive nature of the species in different stands.