Drought and salt stresses are among the important factors limiting plant growth and distribution in
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deserts. The current study assessed the impacts of habitat origin
(saline and non-saline habitats), temperature, and light on drought and salinity tolerances during
germination of Salsola drummondii Ulbr., a habitat-indifferent halophyte. Drought tolerance was
also assessed for S. imbricata Forssk. Seeds treated with different concentrations of sodium
chloride (NaCl) (0 to 1000 mM NaCl) for salinity analysis, and polyethylene glycol (0 to -1.5 MPa
for S. drummondii and 0 to -2.4 MPa for S. imbricata) for drought analysis, were incubated at three
temperatures and two light different regimes. Seeds of S. drummondii from the two habitats
differed in dormancy, germination speed, and responses to light and temperature, which could be
considered as environmental cues to determine the proper space and time of germination. The two
Salsola L., species germinated better at the lower than at higher thermoperiods. Seeds of S.
imbricata tolerated higher drought stress than S. drummondii.