Vermicompost increase the antioxidant properties of Lippia citriodora under salt stress

Lippia citriodora (Verbenaceae) is an herbal species mainly used as a spice and medicinal plant. It grows spontaneously in South America and is cultivated in North Africa and Southern Europe. Given the common use of vermicompost in agriculture, forestry, landscaping and environmental restoration, it is essential that it is perfectly compatible with plant growth and, if possible, that it increases production and quality of plant biomass. Vermicompost can enhance soil fertility physically, chemically and biologically. Although vermicomposts have been shown to improve plant growth significantly, the application of vermicomposts at high concentrations could impede growth due to the high concentrations of soluble salts available in vermicomposts. Therefore, vermicomposts should be applied at moderate concentrations in order to obtain maximum plant yield. Salinity reduces water potential, thereby restricting water and nutrient uptake by plants. Salinity may also cause ionic imbalance and toxicity . Salt stress is a major abiotic stress of plants in many areas of the world due to increasing use of poor quality of water for irrigation and soil salinization. Under saline conditions, plants have to activate different physiological and biochemical mechanisms in order to cope with stress. In this research, a total of 18 pots were planted in a greenhouse. The plants were treated with three levels of vermicompost (0, 10 and 30% volume of pots) and a two level of salinity (0 and 70 mM). The results showed that salinity increased antioxidant of L. citriodora. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in plants treated with 10% vermicompost and then the 10% vermicompost and salinity stress showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to the control plant.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vermicompost ، Lippia citriodora ، Antioxidant ، Salinity