Effect of different levels of salt stress on Qualitative and quantitative traits on Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora L.)

This study has been conducted in order to investigate the effect of salt stress on Qualitative and quantitative traits on Lemon verbena (Lippia Citriodora) in the north of Iran, Behshar in 1392 at spring. Experiment was performed in factorial manner in a completely randomized design with three repetitions. The treatments consisted of three levels of salt stress (0, 2.5 and 5 dS/m2 NACL). Variance Analysis showed that the salinity stress at 0.1 percent had a significant effect on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of medicinal shrub of lemon verbena. Comparison results demonstrated that the effects of salinity were so that the maximum plant morphological characteristics (height, number of stems, wet weight of leaf, wet weight of stem, wet weight of root, dry weight of leaf, dry weight of stem, dry weight of root) and the lowest one were observed in control treatment of under salinity and in the treatment of 5 dS/m2 of salinity. The results of the comparison of the mean of the qualitative traits showed that the highest amount of chlorophyll a, carotenoid, soluble sugar, antioxidant activity and essential oil content were higher in the control treatment and the chlorophyll b content was 2.5 dS / m2 and proline at 5 ds/m2 has been more. No significant difference was found between salinity of 2.5 and 5 dS/m2 in all investigated factors. As a result, it is not suitable for lemon cultivation in areas with a salinity of 2.5 dS / m2 and above.