Effect of NaCl Salinity and ZnSO4 Foliar Application on Yield and Some Physiological Traits of Tagetes erecta L.

Tagetes erectais an annual plant from the Asteraceae;commonly cultivatedas an ornamental and medicinal plant and has a widespread use in landscape designing.An experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of salinity (0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 dSm-1) and zinc sulphate foliar application (0, 100 and 200 mgL-1) on some physiological traits of T. erecta. The results revealed the interaction effects of salinity and Zn foliar application on flower, leaves and stem dry weight, as well as on Zn concentration and ion leakage were significant (P≤1%). The highest flower (0.46 g) and stem (0.54 g) dry weight, as well as the greatest amount for Znconcentration (60.0 µg g-1DWt) belonged to 200 mgL-1 Zn foliar application. Salinity stress significantly influenced the leaves Relative Water Content (RWC) and the highest data for this trait was measured incontrol treatment. Salinity stress had a positive meaningful influence on Na+concentration, ion leakage, proline content and also malondialdehyde content of the plants and the top-recorded quantityof these traits belonged to the highest salinity level i.e. 22.5 dSm-1 NaCl. Salinity stress increased the catalase enzyme activities in 15 and 22.5 dSm-1salinity treatments. In total, Zn foliar application had partial positive effect on the amelioration of salinity effect on the plant