Effect of salinity and temperature on seed germination and seed vigor index of Chicory (chichoriumintynus L.), Cumin (CuminiumCyminium L.) and Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare)

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of different levels of salinity and temperature on germination and seed vigor of three medicinal plants of Chicory (Cichoriumintybus L.), Cumin (Cuminumcyminum L.) and Fennel (Foeniculumvulgare) three separated experiments were carried out by factorial experiment based on complete randomized block design with three replications in 1393 at the laboratory of Agricultural University of Payam Noor, Meshkinshahr center for each plant. Factors were salinity with six levels (0. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 ds/m for all plants) and temperature with three levels (22, 25 and 28 °C for Chicory; 27, 29 and 31 °C for Cumin; 17, 19 and 21 °C for Fennel). Seedling tissue water content was affected by salinity levels in Cumin and Fennel. Salinity reduced seedling length, shoot length, root length, germination percentage, germination rate, seedling dry and fresh weight and seed vigorindex. In all traits that affected by salinity, the highest rate was observed in the control. Seed vigor index, germination percentage, dry weight of seedling, fresh weight of seedling in Chicory, seedling length and root length in Cumin and seed vigor in Fennel were significantly affected by temperature regime. In general it can be stated that Fennel, Cumin and Chicory, are the most sensitive to salinity respectively by 74, 72 and 47% reduction in seed vigor index at the highest levels of salinity in compared to the control level.