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. 2026 Jul 28;17:1887737. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1887737

Figure 1.

Four bar graphs labeled A, B, C, and D display the effects of increasing salt stress concentrations and varying PEG-6000 percentages on germination rate, germination potential, germination index, and vigor index. Each graph compares four conditions: zero, five percent, fifteen percent, and twenty-five percent PEG-6000, indicated by yellow, light blue, dark blue, and red bars, respectively. All metrics decrease markedly with higher salt stress and higher PEG-6000 concentrations. Error bars and statistical group letters are visible for each bar. Legends and axis titles are included for clarity.

Effects of combined drought and salinity stress on the germination characteristics of alfalfa seeds. (A) Germination rate, (B) Germination potential, (C) Germination index, (D) Vigor index. D, drought stress; S, salinity stress; D × S, interaction between drought stress and salinity stress. Different lowercase letters above bars indicate significant differences among treatments at P < 0.05. *, **, and *** indicate significance at P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively; ns indicates no significant difference.