Abstract

Germination properties of two medicinal species including sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) evaluated under different antioxidant compounds and salinity levels by using a factorial based on completely randomized design with 4 replication at Special Crops Laboratory of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The studied factors for each plant consisted of seed priming at 4 levels including control (distilled water), ascorbic acid (40 mM), gibberlic acid (75 mg/L) and salisilic acid (1.5 mM), and five salinity levels according to electrical conductivity by adding NaCl to distilled water (control, 5, 10, 15 and 20 dS/m^-1). Results showed that, pretreatment with gibberlic acid improved germination percentage and rate in two species under higher salt concentration. However, increased in salt concentrations sharply declined the germination of both species. Generally, seed priming with gibberlic acid could improve germination and seedling properties of these two species in the presence of high salinity. 

Key words: Antioxidants, germination percentage, gibberlic acid, salinity