Effect of salicylic acid on germination of three species of Artichoke, Fennel and Black cumin under salinity stress

Effect of Salicylic acid as a pre-treatment, on germination indices of Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Cynara scolymus L. and Nigella sativa under salinity stress was evaluated by a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with four replications. Salicylic acid and salinity were considered in 4 levels (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) and (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) respectively. The results showed that salinity and pre-treatment of salicylic acid significantly affect all indices of germination of three species. Results showed increasing salinity led to decreasing the most measured germination traits. Pre-treatment with salicylic acid improved all germination indices under salinity stress conditions compared to control seeds for all three species and resistant to salinity is decreased in Cynara scolymus L. Foeniculum vulgare Mill, and Nigella sativa respectively. The highest percentage ( more than 96%) and rate of germination in Cynara scolymus was observed at levels of 0.5 and 1 mM salicylic acid ( more than 3.4 n/day). The most improvement of germination traits in Cynara scolymus L., and Nigella sativa was observed at pretreatment 0.5 and 1 mM and for Foeniculum vulgare at 1 mM. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of salicylic acid as a pre-treatment improves the germination traits of Artichoke, Corn cockle and Fennel under salinity stress at different concentrations.