Interactions of vermicomopst and salinity on some morphological, physiological and biochemical traits of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings

Vermicompost can improve physicochemical traits of soil having desirable effect on plant growth and development due to its structural traits and having macro and micro nutrients، plant growth regulators and favorable microorganisms. In order to investigate the effect of interactions between ratios of vermicompost and saline stress on some morphological، physiological and biochemical traits of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Light Red Kidney cultivar، an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Greenhouse، Faculty of Agriculture، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad، in 2010. The treatment levels were considered including five volumetric ratios of vermicompost and sand (0:100; 10:90; 25:75; 50:50 and 75:25) and four saline levels including 0. 00 (control)، 30، 60، 90 and 120 mM NaCl. Bean seeds were cultured in plastic pots، the seedlings being sampled 28 days later. The results showed that vermicompost under stress and without stress had significant effect (P≤ 0. 01) on all traits including ratio of leaf area/root area، root/shoot ratio، membrane stability index، relative water content، amounts of sodium، potassium and calcium found in leaf and root tissues. In this experiment، vermicompost caused increase in potassium and calcium intake and decrease in sodium intake، in saline stress، due to its structural traits and the materials it. Therefore، it seems that vermicompost can ameliorate undesirable effects of salinity on bean seedlings.