Seeds of both Salsola imbricata and Haloxylon salicornicum have high germination level and germination
speed, and form a transient seed bank in nature. The impacts of storage period and condition on germination
level and speed were assessed in the two species. Storage for three months significantly increased
both germination level and speed of seeds stored under the different conditions, compared to that of
fresh seeds. In both species, nine months storage did not affect germination percentage in cold storage
seeds, but completely inhibited it in field seeds. Storage for longer time in room and warm temperatures
resulted in significant reduction or complete inhibition in the germination of the two species, so this was
more pronounced in H. salicornicum. Storage significantly increased germinate rate index of seeds stored
in all conditions till 17 months in S. imbricata and till 12 months in H. salicornicum. In both species, fridge
storage had little effects on final germination and germination speed of seeds incubated at the different
temperatures, compared to fresh seeds. However, room temperature and warm storages significantly
reduced final germination and germination speed at the different temperatures, so the reduction was
more pronounced at 35 C, especially in H. salicornicum.