Investigation the relationships among agronomic and physiological traits of Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis ecotypes under salt stress condition

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationships among some of the agronomic and physiological traits of twelve Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis ecotypes under normal and salt (120 mM NaCl) stress conditions in a factorial experiment using randomized complete block design with three replications. Shoot dry weight under both conditions had significant positive correlation with chlorophyll a and b, potassium, relative water content, canopy area, leaf length and number of stems in plant and had significant negative correlation with sodium to potassium ratio and ion leakage. According to stepwise regression results, canopy area and carotenoid under normal condition and leaf length and number of stems in plant under salt stress condition were entered to the model. The result of path analysis showed that canopy area had the most positive direct effect on shoot dry weight under normal condition and leaf length and number of stems in plant had positive effects on shoot dry weight under salt stress condition.