The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

In light of the continued increase in water usage and diminishing water resources in arid areas of USA, some states have implemented water conservation programs for lawns and gardens.  It is therefore imperative that we seek more drought and salt tolerant plants so that we may maintain our colorful landscapes with less water usage.  Plants that use lower quality water might also be used in place of potable waters.  Horned poppy has been proposed by some as a potential new herbaceous perennial for the Rocky Mountain region.  Studies have been initiated in order to determine the salt and drought tolerance of  Glaucium flavum,  grandiflorum,  acutidentatum and  corniculatum. Seed germination at 3 salinitiy levels (O, 15, and 30 dS/m) of all four species were determined as influenced by 4 growth regulators [ethephon (5.0 mM), fusicoccin (0.0 1 mM), thiourea (30 nM), and kinetin (1.5 mM)].  G flavum had the greatest germination with increasing salt levels followed by corniculatum, acutidentatum, and the least grandiflorum.  Ethephon application resulted in higher levels of germination followed by thiourea as compared to kinetin and the control with increasing salinity.