Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• S.R. Tabaei-Aghdaei
• M.B. Rezaee
• A. Najafi Ashtiani

Research Institut of Forests & Rangelands, PoBox: 13185-116, Tehran-Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted in a greenhouse located at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. The responses of genotypes of 3 Mentha species to salinity stress regarding rooting ability as well as other growth parameters, were evaluated, using a completely randomized design, based factorial design in 3 replications. Stem cuttings of 6 Mentha genotypes, including 28 and 3 (M. piperita L.), 6 and 31 (M. aquatica L.), and 11 and 17 (M. spicata L.) were grown in 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl solutions.  Rooting percentage, maximum root length, average root length, plant vigor, bud induction in saline water, maximum shoot length and shoot bud induction were measured 14, 21 and 28 days after cutting. The results showed that all of the above parameters were reduced with increase in NaCl concentration. However, there was a considerable variation for salt stress responses. All of the characteristics, particulary rooting percentage showed to be singificantly different in the salt treated genotypes, with the highest rooting ability in genotype 6 under 200 mM NaCl. Also, a positive correlation was observed between rootig percentage, as well as between the other parameters. The variation in growth components detected between genotypes, and the correlation between the traits, support a suggestion for breeding of mentha species of higher salt tolerance for cultivation under salinity stress. 

Keywords

• Mentha piperita L
• M. aquatica L
• M. spicata L
• genotype
• Variation
• Salinity
• tolerance
• Stress response