Effect of Foliar Application of Putrescine on Biomass, Water Relative Content and Mineral Elements of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Genove) under Salinity Stress

In order to investigate the effect of foliar application of the putrescine on some growth characteristics and mineral elements content of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Genove) under salinity stress, a pot factorial experiment was performed based on completely randomize design. The treatments included four levels of salinity with irrigation water (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM NaCl) and three levels of putrescine (0, 1 and 2 mM) in three replications. The results of this study showed that the interaction of the salinity and putrescine were significant on all of the studied traits. The mean comparison indicated that the highest dry weight (4.03 g/plant) of aerial parts, RWC content (72.7%), P (1.5%), K (1.7%), Zn (22.3 mg/kg), Ca (1.31%), Mg (0.53 %) and Mn (89.05 mg/kg) were observed at the treatment with 2 mM putrescine foliar application without salinity stress. Whereas, the highest Na (0.9%) were observed at 120 mM salinity stress without putrescine application and application of 2 mM putrescine decreased it. Under salinity stress, putrescine improved the mineral elements content and caused to increase fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and RWC of basil; but in the most studied traits there was no significant difference between two concentrations of putrescine.