PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF CHERVIL PLANT (Antheriscus cerefolium L.) UNDER SALINITY STRESS

Abstract

A Pot experiment was carried out during seasons (2015/2016-2016/2017), designed a two-factorial factors experiment in a layout of RCBD. This study was aimed to elucidate the physiological and growth responses of Chervil plants as well as the essential oil percentage and components to studied treatments; the foliar spray of methyl jasmonate and sodium nitroprusside when subjected to studied salinity levels. The experiment included five soil salinity levels (Control, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 ppm), which was prepared prior planting. In which each level included five treatments; control which sprayed by water, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), foliar spray in concentrations; 150µM (SNP1) and 250 µM (SNP2) and methyl jasmonate; foliar spray in concentrations; 4 ppm (MeJA1) and 8ppm (MeJA2). Tween 20 is used as a wetting material in all treatments. In both two successive seasons, sampling was collected at two successive vegetative cuttings for stuyding growth parameters, chemical components and essentail oil perentage and components in each cutting. Results indicated that soil salinity showed different effects according to salinity level either encouraging or inhibiting effects. The encouraging effect of salinity was 2000 ppm. This trend was confirmed by studied organic compounds (total sugars, soluble phenols, freee amino acids as well as free proline (mg/g F.w.)) and inorganic constituents (calcium, potassium, sodium concentration (mg/g D.w.) as well as sodium: potassium ratio) as well as plant pigments concentrations, and essential oil percentage. Methyl jasmonate acid effect was observed on root parameters as an encouraging effect, whereas both MeJA and SNP enhanced shoot parameters. The essentail oil percentage of chervil plant ranged between 0.01 to 0.12 % in the first cut. Both JA and SNP increased its percentage. Its major components of essential oil of chervil plant were Methyleugenol, Estragol or Methyl chavicole and 2-Allyl-1,4 dimethoxybenzene in sequence, in addition, oxygenated components were its majorty. Results showed a contradictory relatioship between Methyleugenol and Methyl chavicol (Estragole). It was found that SNP2 enhanced the production of Methyleugenol while JA enhanced the synthesis of Estragole. This study concluded that 2000-ppm was suitable salinity level for growing chervil plant. Moreover, foliar spray of 150 µM sodium nitroprusside showed best treatment with respecting the effects on plant growth, physiological responses as well as essential oil and components. Whereever, foliar spray of methyl jasmonate in concentration of 4 ppm showed best trends in plant growth, biochemical and physiological responses as well as essentail oil percentage and components in plants grown under 3000 ppm.