Effect of brasinosteroid on morphological and physiological traits of garden thyme (Thymusvulgaris) in salinity stress

The present study was conducted to reduce the effects of salinity stress on germination and initial growth stages of Thymus vulgaris as a medicinal plant using brassinosteroid (BR) under in vitro culture. Thyme seeds were exposed to different concentrations of salinity (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) and BR (0.5, 1 and 3 µM), and then different germination and growth indices as well as some phytochemical properties of seedlings were measured. Results indicated that under salinity conditions, the highest germination percentage (95%) was observed at the lowest salt concentration (50 mM) and the highest BR concentration (3 µM). Applying differentBR concentrations improved root and shoot height.It also increased dry and fresh biomass of thyme seedlings in a way that at the same salinity conditions of 200 mM, root and stem length increased about 30.5% and 42.9%, respectively, in samples treated with 3 µM BR in coparison with the ones treated with 0.5 µM BR. The amount of proline and antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in the seedlings treated with the highest BR concentration in comparison with those treated with the lower concentrations, and the seedlings had lower membrane permeability (lipid peroxidation). The results of correlation coefficient showed that there was a negative correlation between cell membrane permeability (amount of malondialdehyde) and all measured biochemical and morphological traits related to seedling growth. According to the results of this study, it is suggested to apply BR during the sensitive stage of seed germination and early growth of garden thyme seedlings under water or soil salinity conditions.