Abstract
AbstractSalinity is a major abiotic stress which decreases crop productivity. Salt stress also causes osmotic, water, ionic and oxidative stresses. Plants exposure to salt can check their growth by reduction in water and nutrient uptake, osmotic imbalance and cytotoxicity incited by sodium and chloride ions. Present study deals with the impact of salt on germination, growth and physiological components of fenugreek and its alleviation by the application of calcium silicate. The salt stress reduced fenugreek germination and growth but supplementation of calcium silicate to salt stressed seedlings mitigated deleterious impacts of salinity. Various parameters like germination, seedling length, biomass, pigment and protein contents of fenugreek seedlings were significantly improved with calcium silicate under salt stress. Maximum reduction 53.3% in protein amount was recorded in fenugreek seedlings treated with NaCl (10 mM) over control. Significant increase in total antioxidant content in fenugreek seedlings was observed with calcium silicate as it showed the following order: Ca2SiO4 > NaCl + Ca2SiO4 > NaCl > Control. Hence, application of calcium silicate can be useful for the fenugreek plants growing under saline conditions.
Publisher
Atlantis Press International BV