Effect of salt stress in different stages of growth on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

Abstract

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the most important pharmaceutical plants. As a considerable portion of existing agricultural lands in arid regions is exposed to aridity and finally to salinity, we need to study the effects of salinity on the growth and production of agronomical products. For this purpose, an agricultural experiment in the form of split plots with three replications was conducted in 2011 at the Islamic Azad University, Gonabad Branch, Iran, in the longitude of 58°, 50’, latitude of 34°, 54’, and altitude of 940 m from the sea level. At the main plot, four salinity levels (2,5,8 and 11ds/m) and at the sub plot, the growth stages of stress implementation (including stress in establishment, flowering, and seed filling stage), were located at random. The results showed that the salinity rate had significant impact on fresh weight, dry weight, height , percentage of essence, seed and biological yield. With the increase in salinity from 2 to 11ds/m, a significant decrease in all vegetative and reproductive characteristics were observed. The most sensitive growth stages of plant to salt stress, during vegetative and reproductive period were the stage of establishment and flowering, respectively. There was no interaction between the growth stage of plant and salinity rate, except for seed yield and harvest index.