Assessment of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) genotypes for salinity stress tolerance

The Nigella sativa L. is an annual medicinal herb, belong to the Rununculaceae family. The vast application of this plant in medicine and its nutrition value has been of particular importance. Seeds of this plant are used to treat many diseases and chronic disorders and are a very valuable source for oil and protein. Water and soil salinity are one of the most important limiting factors in crop production in the many parts of the world including Iran. Investigation of salinity effects on of growth and various traits of Nigella sativa L. and evaluation of the tolerance of various Nigella sativa L. genotypes to salinity are important in selection of tolerant genotypes for cultivation in salt affected soils. In this regard, in order to evaluate the tolerance of different genotypes of Nigella sativa L. to salinity stress, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was performed using four levels of salinity as the first factor and 10 genotypes of Nigella sativa L. as the second factor. The salinity levels included 2.5, 5 and 7.5 ds/m EC sodium chloride (NaCl) which were applied in the seedling stage with irrigation water in three stages at intervals of 5 days. Normal water was used as the control. The results showed that salinity had a significant effect on flowering time, plant height, shoot and root dry weight, follicle number per plant, seed number per follicle, seed weight per plant and date of maturity. With increasing levels of salinity, its destructive effects on growth, yield and yield components were more pronounced in most of the genotypes. Among the evaluated genotypes, Kazemin and Mashhad genotypes, in terms of follicle weight and number, grain weight per follicle, weight and number of seeds per plant and biological yield had the high yield under salt stress conditions and were known as more tolerant genotypes. However, Shahreza and Isfahan genotypes had low yield and detected as more sensitive genotypes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) ، Salinity tolerance ، Yield