Effects of salinity and draught stresses on seed germination, growth and proline content of common daisy (Bellis perennis L.  Bellissima Mixture ) seedling

Germination and emergence of seed is strongly influenced by environmental stresses such as salinity and drought. In order to study the germination response of common daisy (Bellis perennis L. “Bellissima Mixture”) seeds to salinity and drought stresses, two separate experiments were carried out based on completely randomized design with 3 replications. Drought and salinity treatments were seven osmotic potential levels (0, -2, -4, -6, -8, -10 and -12 bars) applied using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively. The results showed with increasing levels of drought and salinity, germination percentage decreased and at potential level of -12 bar of drought and salinity, it reduced to zero and 50%, respectively. Drought and salinity stresses significantly decreased germination rate from levels of -2 and -8 bar to higher compared to control, respectively. Moreover, drought and salinity stresses significantly reduced radical length, plumule length and dry weight of radical, plumule and total. With increasing levels of salinity to -10 and -12 bars, plumule length values decreased by 42 and 67% compared to control, respectively. Proline content significantly increased by drought and salinity stresses, but the amount of proline under drought stress was higher than salinity. The results of this study showed that the salinity tolerance of common daisy in the germination stage was higher than drought stress.