Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences

The effects of salinity and drought stresses on germination and seedling growth of clary (Salvia sclarea)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Jabbar Fallahi 1
Mohammad Taghi Ebadi 2
Reza Ghorbani 3
1 M.Sc. student of Agroecology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
2 M.Sc. student of Horticulture (Production and Physiology of Medicinal Plants), Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Agronomy, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
10.22077/escs.2009.7
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of drought caused by PEG 6000 and salinity induced by NaCl on germination and seedling growth of Clary, two experiments were carried out based on a completely randomized design with 4 replications. In the first experiment, the effects of drought levels (0, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10, -12 bar) and in the second one the effects of salinity levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 mmol) on germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length and seedling dry weight was studied. Effect of salinity and drought stresses were significantly different between various treatments. The maximum rates and percentage of germination were obtained at control and the minimum percentage of germination was obtained at -12 bars and 350 mmol. Water potential significantly reduced seedling length and seedling dry weight. Results showed that Clary, a medicinal plant, is highly tolerant to drought and salinity stresses during germination period.
Keywords
Drought stress
Medicinal plant
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Salvia

  • Receive Date 03 November 2008
  • Revise Date 20 December 2008
  • Accept Date 29 January 2009