Morphophysiological and biochemical response of basil cultivar Keshkeni luveluo under salinity stress and super absorbent polymers application

In order to study the effect of three types of superabsorbent polymers on biochemical characteristics of basil cultivar Keshkeni luveluo under salinity stress, an pot experiment was conducted at the research greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad as factorial based on completely randomized design with four levels of salinity (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM NaCl in irrigation water) and four levels of superabsorbent polymers included (control, Ackoasorb, Stockosorb and Terracottem) in three replications in 2017. In first harvesting time chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid and total chlorophyll increased by using Terracottem 29.48, 25.20, 17.24 and 10.84 percent, respectively. At the same salinity, antioxidant activity decreased 18.25 percent with the use Stockosorb and total phenol decreased 26.31 percent by using Terracottem; proline decreased 50 percent by Ackoasorb and RWC increased 13 percent by Ackoasorb superabsorbent polymers application. In second harvesting time chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid and total chlorophyll increased by using Terracottem 22.58, 34.78, 10.71 and 26.66 percent, respectively. RWC increased 22.06 percent by Ackoasorb superabsorbent polymers application. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic and proline content by using Terracottem and soluble carbohydrate with the use Stockosorb and electrolyte leakage by using Ackoasorb decreased 19.93, 7.81, 44.77, 39.13 and 26.02 percent, respevtively. The results of this study showed that Terracottem was more effective than the other supearabsorbents. So that the use of this super absorbent is recommended in salt stress condition.