Effect of salinity stress on germination and seedling characteristics of Artemisia annua L.
Subject Areas :Mohammad Hosein Bijeh Keshavarzi 1 , Heshmat Omidi 2
1 - Shahed University
2 - Shahed University
Keywords: germination, salinity stress, seedling, Artemisia annua L,
Abstract :
Salinity stress is a significant factor that imposes limitations on the growth and productivity of crops. Like other living organisms, plants are susceptible to various stresses and can suffer damage when exposed to them.Under conditions of salinity stress, the stages of germination and seedling growth become particularly crucial in the life cycle of plants.Artemisia annua L., an important medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional Iranian and other Asian medicine, was the subject of investigation in this research.The aim was to examine the impact of salinity stress on the germination process(both in terms of percentage and rate)and the characteristics of seedlings(such as radicle length,plumule length, fresh weight, and dry weight)in Artemisia annua L.The study was carried out in 2023,employing a completely randomized design with four replications at the Department of Agronomy in Shahid University.The experimental treatments consisted of four levels of salinity(0,50,100,and150 mM)induced by sodium chloride salt.The data obtained were analyzed using SAS software, and the means were compared utilizing the Duncan test at a 5%probability level.The findings of this experiment demonstrated that the control treatment(without salinity)exhibited the highest percentage and speed of germination, as well as the longest radicle and plumule lengths, and the greatest fresh and dry weights of the seedlings.Germination was not observed at concentrations of 150mM and higher.Hence, based on the outcomes of this study, it can be concluded that salinity stress has an adverse impact on the germination process and seedling growth of Artemisia annua L.,revealing the plant's heightened sensitivity to salinity.
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