Morphological adaptation of Cercis griffithii seedlings in response to progressive drought and salinity stresses

Abstract

The experiment for evaluate the effect of drought and salinity stresses on the morphological behaviours of Afghan redbud seedlings was done in Torogh nursery in Iran country. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design; without stress (tap common water in the nursery- EC 0.8 dS m^-1), drought stress (four days a time irrigation) and salt treatment (EC 12.03 dS m^-1). During the summer, morphological traits were measured and calculated. Result showed that height seedling after 60th until 70th day significant at the (p<0.05) level and significantly at (p<0.01) levels at the end of growth period under the drought and salinity conditions. Leaf area at the end of growth, leaf area growth and leaf area reduced significantly at (p<0.01) in comparison with control treatment. The result indicated that effect of time × drought interaction for height, diameter, number of leaves and leaf area was not significant. The result indicated that effect of time × salinity interaction for height, diameter and number of leaves was not significant but for leaf area had significant difference at (p<0.05) level. We used four days a time by irrigation and saline water in nursery less than EC 12.03 dS m^-1 for economy well water in arid and semi-arid region.

Keywords: Afghan redbud, Stress, Growth, Regression model, Repeated Measures