Effects of coronatine on physiological and biochemical characteristics of two berberis cultivars (Berberis crataegina DC. & Berberis integerrima Bge.) under saline condition

This study was conducted to determine the effects of saline stress and coronatine on physiological and biochemical characteristics of two berberis cultivars (Berberis crataegina DC. and Berberis integerrima Bge.) in 2013. The study was arranged in a factorial completely randomized design (RCD) with four replications. The study species were planted in the pots containing sand. The plants were treated with NaCl at four levels of 0, 25, 50, 75mM and three levels of coronatine (0. 0.75, 1.5mM). The results showed that the content of proline, total phenols, total flavonoids, total proanthocyanidine and anthocyanin increased in plants treated with salinity stress while the chlorophyll content was reduced by increasing of salt concentration. At the same concentration of NaCl, the maximum content of proline was recorded in plants treated with coronatine (1.5mM). The highest increase in the total chlorophyll content was related to coronatine (0.75mM); however, the content of total phenols, total flavonoids, total proanthocyanidine and anthocyanin was decreased at a concentration of 1.5mM coronatine.