Short Communication: Effect of salinity on some morphophysiological traits of Zinnia elegans

In order to evaluate different NaCl concentrations on some morpho-physiological specifications of Zinnia elegans, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted by adding NaCl of 0, 20, 50 and 75 mM with electrical conductivity of 1, 3.1, 6 and 9.3 mS/cm, respectively. Results showed that increasing NaCl concentration over 50 mM significantly decreases the leaf number, leaf area, root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content. In this research, increasing salinity enhanced catalase and peroxidase activities, while catalase showed greater activity than peroxidase. So, because Zinnia elegans flowers are resistant to salinity, salinity levels above the 6 mS/cm can reduce plant growth and development.