Ameliorating effect of triacontanol on salt stressed Erythrina variegata seedlings. Changes in growth, biomass, pigments and solute accumulation

Abstract

Erythrina variegata Lam. seedlings were grown under low (100 mM NaCl) and high (250 mM NaCl) salinity. Seedlings exposed to high salinity for 10 d showed significant reduction in growth rate and biomass production while the root/shoot ratio increased. In contrast to pigment and protein contents, starch and saccharide contents increased in salt stressed seedlings. When the seedlings were subsequently sprayed with triacontanol (1 mg kg-1) the salinity effect was partially ameliorated and growth, biomass, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents increased.