Effect of different polyamines on some physiological traits, growth, and development of basil (Ocimum basilicum l.) in salt stress under hydroponic culture conditions

Abstract

As basil occurs in the arid and semi-arid regions, the drought and salinity decrease the vegetative growth and leaf area. This research was carried out in Pakdasht private greenhouse to evaluate the effect of putrescine, spermine, and spermidine on quality and quantity of basil under conditions of salt stress. This research was done as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments included application of putrescine, spermine, and spermidine at four levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/l), salinity stress at four levels (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM), and control treatment. The results showed that the interaction effects between polyamines, salinity, and concentration on plant height, fresh/dry shoot weight, fresh/dry weight of root, fresh/dry leaf weight, leaf chlorophyll content, catalase, peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase antioxidant enzymes, the ratio of K/Na ratio, ion leakage, and proline were statistically significant at 1% level. Interaction and simultaneous exposure of 150 mg/l spermidine and low salinity had a positive effect on all the studied plant traits. In addition, the results showed that the concentration of 150 mM sodium chloride solution reduced the mentioned traits. However, spermidine improved this condition, and symptoms of stress and damages were less observed in spermidine-treated plants. Therefore, it can be used to withstand the oxidative stress of plants.