Effect of Pretreatment of Salicylic Acid on Germination and Seedling Properties Callendulla officinalis in Salt Stress Condition

An experiment was conducted to investigate pretreatment effects of Salicylic acid on germination properties of Callendulla officinalis L. under salinity stress condition. The experiment was arranged as factorial design in a randomized block design with four replications. Factors were included salicylic acid at three concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 mM) and NaCl at four concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 mM). Both of separated and interaction effects were significant on germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, length of radicle and hypocotyle, dry weight of radicle and hypocotyle and seedling, as well as radicle-hypocotyle ratio. Salicylic acid had a positive effect on germination and encouraged it under stress treatment. There was the highest germination percentage, germination rate, vigor index, length of radical-hypocotyle, dry weight of radical and hypocotyle and seedling by pretreatment with concentration of 0.5 mM salicylic acid. While concentrations of 1mM led to the highest radical/hypocotyle ratio. Not only pretreatment by salicylic acid at concentration of 0.5 mM had resulted in the highest performance in germination properties but also promoted survival of the seedling under salinity conditions compare to control statistically.