Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Plant Breeding, Payam Noor University, Mashhad, Iran.

2 M.Sc., Department of Seed and Plant Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Iran

3 M.Sc. Student, Department of Plant Breeding, Payam Noor University, Mashhad, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Agriculture, Payam Noor University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

In order to study the effects of salinity stress (made by sodium chloride and calcium chloride) and
temperature interaction on germination characteristics of hyssopus officinalis, an experiment was conduct
on factorial basis and in a completely randomized design with three replication at laboratory of Khorasan
Razavi Agriclultural and Natural Resource Research Center in 2010. In this experiment, different osmotic
potentials (0, -3, -6 and -9 bar) and also different temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35 centigrade degree) were
used. In this research, the percentage and rate of germination, the length of radicle and plumule, length
ratio of radicle and plumule and seed vigor characteristics has been measured. The results showed a very
significant effect of salt levels, osmotic potential and temperature on the above characteristics. The mean
comparison for percentage and rate of germination characteristics showed that calcium chloride with 63%
and 7.11 respectively had a significant difference with sodium chloride with 50% and 1.70. The highest
percent and rate of germination were seen in -3 bar osmotic potential made by calcium chloride in 25
centigrade degree. The highest length of radicle and vigor was in -3 bar osmotic potential made by
calcium chloride in 20 centigrade degree. The highest length of plumule was seen in both sodium chloride
and calcium chloride in 0 bar (control) osmotic potential and 30 centigrade degree. Generally while the
osmotic potential increases and temperature goes up to 30 centigrade degree all the characteristics in
sodium chloride and calcium chloride had a remarkable reduction. Also increment of high temperatures
had more harmful effects in NaCl than CaCl2. Study the Hyssop plant response to different levels of
salinity and temperature on germination stage, it will assist farmers in establishment and desirable
production.

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