International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences
© 2015 Available online at www.irjabs.com
ISSN 2251-838X / Vol, 9 (11): 2007-2009
Science Explorer Publications
The effect of salt stress on growth parameters of
Chrysanthemum
Abdollah Seifi1, Vahid Abdossi2, Elham Danaei1
1. Department of Gardening, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran
2. Department of Horticulture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Coressponding author email: Seifiabdollah@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT: Salinity either of soil or of irrigation water causes disturbance in plant growth and nutrient
balance and reduces crop yields. The effects of NaCl salinity level and silamol on the growth parameters
of chrysanthemum were investigated. Plants were supplied with nutrient solutions containing 50, 100,
-1
150 mM of NaCl and 0, 0.3 and 0.6 mg Si (Silamol). The results showed that stress treatment
significantly influenced on growth parameters of chrysanthemum. Application of levels NaCl significantly
decreased the chlorophyll content, fresh weight and dry weight, while increased proline content.
Key words: Chrysanthemum, Si (Silamol), Salt stress, NaCl2
INTRODUCTION
Stresses affects the performance of the plant differently in various stages of plant growth. In response to
lack of water, plants have different mechanisms to reduce harmful effects of stress. Some of them are
morphological such as development of root size and have a widespread root, reduce and change in leaf shape and
structure while some of them are physiological such as reduce in pore size and close them, reduce in growth and
etc. The type of response to stress condition is related to the stage which stress happen as well as the severity of
stress. Salt stress affects different stages of photosynthesis and photo system II (Inze and Montago, 1995). Salinity
has an adverse effect on seed germination of several vegetables crops, by creating an osmotic potential outside
+
the seed inhibiting the absorption of water, or by the toxic effect of Na and Cl (Khajeh-Hosseini et al., 2003).
Water uptake during the imbibition’s phase decreases and salinity induces an excessive absorption of toxic ions in
the seed (Murillo-Amador et al., 2002). Sivritepe et al., (2003) have reported that NaCl seed priming of melon
increases the emergence level and dry weight of plants under saline condition. The significance of soil salinity for
agriculture yield is enormous as it affects the establishment, growth and development of plants leading to huge
losses in productivity. The objective of this study was to investigate growth and development of chrysanthemum in
response to different concentrations of NaCl and Si (Silamol).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted as a factorial experiment based in a randomized complete block design with 12
treatment and 3 replications. The experiment was performed at Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran. Chrysanthemum seeds
provided from Pakdasht and planted in pots. Factors were including: four levels 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl
-1
and 0, 0.3 and 0.6 mg Si (Silamol). Some traits including; fresh weight and dry weight, SOD content, chlorophyll
content and proline content were recorded.
Statistical analysis
All data were analyzed using the SPSS software according to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P ≤ 0.5 and
P ≤ 0.01. Treatment means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at the 5% level of
probability.
Intl. Res. J. Appl. Basic. Sci. Vol., 9 (11), 2007-2009, 2015
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results showed that NaCl treatment significantly affected fresh weight and dry weight (P ≤ 0.01) according
to Table 1. Si (Silamol) significantly influenced chrysanthemum fresh weight and dry weight (P ≤ 0.01). Application
of levels Si (Silamol) produced the highest fresh weight and dry weight (P ≤ 0.01). The results showed that NaCl
-1
treatment significantly influenced leaf area (Table 1). Application of level 0.6 mg Si (Silamol) produced the highest
leaf area. Opening percent significantly influenced with NaCl treatment (Table 1). Levels different Si (Silamol)
treatment showed significant effect on opening percent (P ≤ 0.01). The highest anthocyanin was obtained in level
-1
0.6 mg Si (Silamol). NaCl treatment significantly influenced chlorophyll content (Table 1). Levels CaCl2 showed
significant effect on chlorophyll total content (P ≤ 0.01). The highest chlorophyll content was achieved in level 0.6
-1
-1
mg Si (Silamol). Also, Application of level 0.6 mg Si (Silamol) produced the highest SOD content. Salt is one of
the serious abiotic stresses in many countries of the world. Drought stress caused a significant decrease in
germination and seedling growth. Shakirova and Sahabutdinove, (2003) Reported that germination percentage
decreased under Drought, salinity and temperature stresses. Fresh and Dry weights of shoot and leaf decreased
drastically under salinity condition compared with non-salinity condition. These results are similar to those reported
by (Kaydan et al., 2007) and (Afzal et al., 2005) who found that dry weight was reduced by salt stress in wheat.
During long-tern exposure to salinity, plants experience ionic stress, which can lead to premature senescence of
adult leaves, and thus a reduction in the photosynthetic area available to support continued growth (Sultana et al.,
1999) salt also affects photosynthetic components such as chlorophylls and carotenoids. Changes in these
parameters depend on the severity and duration of stress (Mirsa et al., 1997) and on plant species (Dubey et al.,
1994). High concentrations of salts also disrupt homeostasis in water potential and ion distribution in plants. Altered
water status most likely brings a bout initial growth reduction (Ashraf and O’leary, 1997; Al-Karaka et al., 2000;
Dash and Panda., 2001; Demiral et al., 2005). It is also involved in regulating photosynthetic capacity, flowering
and senescence, also counteracting adverse effects of salt stress in tomato (Davey et al., 2000). It seems Si
increased the tolerance of seeds to stress, therefore it can be concluded that Si application is a simplefast and
easy method that could be recommended to farmers for achieving higher germination and uniform emergence
under field conditions.
Table 1. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) of measured parameters in chrysanthemum under different treatments of NaCl and Si
(Silamol).
Source of
Variation
(S.O.V)
T
Error
CV (%)
df
11
-
Fresh
weight
56.290**
0.060
16.56
dry
weight
1.836**
0.012
16.65
Chlorophyll
content
93.443**
0/110
17.40
Proline
content
4.610**
0/023
16.47
SOD content
12355.484**
0.338
16.94
Leaf area
126.169**
0.075
16.15
Opening
percent
Anthocyanin
content
14318.182**
0.670
16.75
0.367**
0.003
16.88
** Significant statistically at 1%.
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