Evaluation of salinity tolerance and absorption of salt by Borage (Borago officinalis L.)

This study has been conducted in two experiments in order to evaluate salinity tolerance and absorption of salt by Borage (Borago officinalis L.).In first experiment, the effect of salinity on qualitative and quantitative yield of Borage was studied. The treatments were water salinity (Control, 4, 8 and 12 dS/m²).The measured parameters were: quantitative yields (percentage of germination, dry and fresh weight of root, stem and florescence, Root/shoot, height and number of flower and leaf per plant) and qualitative yields (content of mucilage, total ash, Na, Cl, Mg, Ca and K in plant tissues). The results indicated that salinity increased content of Na, Cl and total ash in plant tissues. The salinity reduced height, germination percentage, number of flower and content of mucilage, Ca and K. Because of high content of mucilage in plant tissue and stability of yield under salinity conditions, it can be deduced that borage is tolerant to salinity (to 12 dS/m²). High content of Na, Cl, total ash and mucilage is related to accumulation of solutes for osmoregulation that can be used as an index for salinity tolerance in Borage. Second experiment has been conducted to study the absorption of salt by Borage. Measured parameters were Na, Cl, Mg, K and Ca content in soil at pre and post planting of borage. The results indicated that content of Na, Cl, Mg and Ca reduced in soil after planting borage. Regarding the results of this study, it can be suggested that borage can uptake salt from soil and accumulate harmful ions in its plant tissues. Therefore it can be introduced for improvement of saline and sodic soils.