Salinity stress is one of the main factors limiting the growth and production of plants. Zinc is one of the essential elements in the plant growth and metabolic processes whose application causes the plants to withstand environmental stresses. On the other hand, applica
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Salinity stress is one of the main factors limiting the growth and production of plants. Zinc is one of the essential elements in the plant growth and metabolic processes whose application causes the plants to withstand environmental stresses. On the other hand, application of nano-material has been considered recently for the ease of uptake. In order to investigate the effect of foliar application of ZnO nanoparticles under salinity stress, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments consisted of two levels of ZnO solution at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg.l-1 and NaCl salinity at five levels of 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM. Results showed that stem length, plant fresh weight, leaf number, leaf area, and photosynthetic pigments content, as well as soluble carbohydrate content were significantly decreased compared to control especially at 200 mM salinity level. On the other hand, foliar application of 4 mgr/l nano zinc oxide through positive effects on parameters such growth parameters, chlorophyll stability index, chlorophylls, carotenoids, proline and soluble sugars content of leaf and root. Also, analysis of the interaction of effects of the treatments showed that maximum root length and total fresh weight at 50 mM NaCl and maximum proline and chlorophyll at 100 mM NaCl were observed in spraying nano zinc oxide with a concentration of 4 mg/l. In general, the results of the study showed that the application of 4 mg/l nano-zinc oxide resulted in an increase in the growth and compatible osmolytes of Salvia leriifolia Benth., improving its response to salinity stress.
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