Ameliorating effect of calcium and potassium on proline content, chlorophyll, protein content and growth of Ammi (Carum copticum L.) under salinity stress

In order to investigate the effects of supplementary calcium chloride and potassium nitrate on proline, protein content, chlorophyll and growth of Ammi (Carum copticum L.) under different salinity levels and nutrient solutions (NS), a RCBD design with factorial arrangement was conducted at the Agriculture Research Field, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, during September 2009. The treatments were three levels of salinity (0, 50 and 100 mMol) and five different nutrition solutions including: Control: Hoagland solution only (N1); Hoagland solution plus 20 mM CaCl2 in nutrition solution (N2); Hoagland solution plus 20 mM CaCl2 as spray (N3); Hoagland solution plus 20 mM KNO3 in nutrition solution (N4) and Hoagland solution plus 20 mM KNO3 as spray (N5). Results showed that proline content was significantly affected by salinity and the type of nutrient solution and their interactions. Increasing salinity, especially at 100 Mmol NaCl, significantly reduced chlorophyll a,b and total chlorophyll. Chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content were not significantly affected by the type of nutrition solution. The highest and lowest protein content were observed by control and 100 Mm NaCl treatments respectively. The type of nutrient solution also influenced protein content. The highest and lowest protein contents were related to N3 and N5, respectively. Total dry weight and stem dry weight were significantly reduced by salinity while root dry weight was not affected by salinity. The highest leaf area was achieved on control and nutrition solution N5. Generally, it is concluded that Ammi could tolerate salinity up to 50 mMol NaCl and leaf spraying of Ca and K would be better to ameliorate salinity rather than using in nutrition solution.