Effect of environmental conditions on survival of Capparis decidua seedlings

Ripe fruits of Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew.were collected from the species natural habitat in Sirik at Hormozgan Province (June, 2001).
After rubbing and washing the seeds, they were sowed in a nursery in order to test the seeds germination and the seedlings survival. The statistical method was factorial with completely randomized design, consisting of two factors. The first factor was seed treatments which consisted of four levels (12 hours soaking in concentrated sulphuric acid, 45 minutes soaking in concentrated sulphuric acid and full fruit sowing). The second factor was soil mix treatments which consisted of 12 levels (sand, garden soil, clay manure and natural habitat soil). Moreover, correlation between climate parameters (temperature, relative humidity % and monthly evaporation) and edaphic parameters (organic matter %, sand % slit % and clay %) on one hand seedlings survival % on another hand were studied. The results showed that the effects of seed and soil mix treatments on seedling survival were significant (p<0.01) and the best seed treatment was soaking seeds in water s=for 12 hours which resulted in 59.4 % seedling survival. The best soil mix treatments were number, 9(2.3% of sand + 1.3% of garden soil) and number 1(1.2% of sand + 1.2% of garden soil) which resulted in 55.8% ND 51.3% seedling survival, respectively. The effects interactions between the seed and soil mix treatment were not significant the correlation between air temperature, sand % and seedlings survival ^ was positively significant, whereas the correlation between silt %, clay and seedlings survival % was negatively significant (p<0.01).