Dry storage usually results in the decrease in germination
requirements in seeds of many species of arid and semiarid lands.
Generally, germination requirements usually become less specific
after seed dry storage [1]. For example, the need for high temperature
and light to achieve greater germination in fresh seeds of
Prosopis juliflora was significantly reduced after seed stored dry at room temperatures for 8 months [16]. Similarly, seeds of the
desert herb Plantago coronopus stored for two months germinated
under narrow range of temperatures, but germinated under wider
range of temperatures when stored in their inflorescences under
natural desert habitats for one year [17]. These species developed
innate dormancy and form persistent seed bank. However, few
studies have assessed the impact of different storage conditions
on temperature requirement for desert shrubs with a transient
seed bank (but see [7,18,38]. The aim of this study was to assess
the impact of different storage periods and conditions (e.g., cold,
warm, room temperatures and natural field conditions) on germination
level and speed of the two desert shrubs Haloxylon salicornicum
and Salsola imbricata, which have a transient seed bank. In
addition, the study also aimed at assessing the impact of the different
storage conditions for a period of one year on the temperature
requirement during germination in the two species