Effect of salinity stress on germination indices of Anison (Pimpinella anisum L.) medicinal plant

In order to study the effect of osmotic pretreatment on seed germination indices of Anison medicinal plant under salinity stress, an experiment was carried out as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Medicinal Plants Laboratory of Shahid Bakeri Higher Education Center, Myandab, in 2017. Pre-treatment factor consisted of three levels: control, calcium chloride and potassium chloride with 1.5% concentration and salinity factor contained four levels of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl. Results showed that salinity stress reduced germination indices and early vegetative growth and consequently decreased height, fresh and dry weight of seedlings. Mean of each traits at 150 mM salinity without pretreatment was 80-86% lower than non-stress. However, pre-treatment of seed under salinity reduced the negative effects of salinity stress on germination indices by 25-38% than non-stress. Calcium chloride pre-treatment in all traits except seed vigor index had more effect than potassium chloride in decreasing growth and germination indices. In general, pre-treatment of Anisone seeds can be used as a low cost and beneficial approach in saline stress conditions.