Study of effects of seawater salt spray on growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content in three coastal species of Morocco

Abstract

Plants of the coastal areas are frequently subjected to salt stress due to the continuous exposure of those plants to wind of seawater. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse. Three ornamental species (Lagunaria patersonii, Schinus terebinthifolius and Araucaria heterophylla) were used in this work. Two salt spray treatments were applied for three months, once a day (T1) and twice a day (T2). During the experiment, the plants height, the number of ramifications, the chlorophyll fluorescence (F v /Fm ), and the chlorophyll content were examined. The results showed that after ninety days, the seawater spraying decreased plants height, ramifications, F v /Fm and chlorophyll content in all of the studied species with significant variation between them. Based on these results, A. heterophylla was qualified as more tolerant to salt spray, its survival rate was higher than 94%, while L. patersonii and S. terebinthifolius were presented only 91% and 83% respectively. In terms of the studied parameters, tolerance to salt spray may strongly associate with great photosystem II (PSII) performance and high chlorophyll content under this constraint. In addition, salt spray may prevent L. patersonii, S. terebinthifolius from growing in these coastal areas.