Effect of chitosan and salinity stress on seed germination characteristics of savory (Satureja hortensis L.) and dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) and savory (Satureja hortensis L.) are the important aromatic and medicinal plants. Their essential oil used in medicinal and food industries. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of chitosan and salinity levels on seed germination characteristics of savory and dragonhead. Therefore two experiments were conducted to investigation the effect of chitosan (0, 1 and 2%) and salinity (0, 4 and 6 ds/m) on seed germination of these two plants. Experimental design was completely randomized design with factorial arrangement of treatments with three replications. The experiments were conducted in Kurdistan University, Iran, in 2013. The results indicated that using chitosan (2%) caused the highest values of germination rate and germination percentage of dragonhead and savory, whereas salinity stress decreased the mentioned traits. Application of chitosan 1% and 2% increased root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root under salinity stress. Generally the most favorable interaction treatment for mentioned traits was the chitosan 1% combined with 6 ds/m salinity stress in the in both plants.