Vol. 83 No: 2

Title:
NaCl stress affects growth and essential oil composition in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Authors:
T. TOUNEKTI, A.M. VADEL, A. BEDOUI and H. KHEMIRA

pp: 267-273

Abstract:
The effect of irrigation with increasing concentrations of salt [4.5 (control), 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200 mM] on shoot growth and the essential oil (EO) composition of Rosmarinus officinalis L. was investigated in 2-year-old plants growing on dune-sand in pots. Shoot extension was not affected by low NaCl concentrations in the soil solution (≤ 25 mM); but it decreased with higher concentrations. NaCl at 150 mM and 200 mM was lethal and caused the plants to wilt after 1 month of culture.The Na⁺ content of both leaves and roots increased, whereas the K⁺ content decreased with the progressive increase in NaCl concentration in the growth medium. Rosemary plants maintained a higher K⁺:Na⁺ ratio in the shoots compared to roots. It appeared that rosemary is moderately salt tolerant. This tolerance is apparently due to the ability of these plants to accumulate Na⁺ in their old leaves and to maintain a higher K⁺: Na⁺ ratio in the leaves compared to the roots. During the period of study, the level of salinity in the soil solution affected the EO composition. There was a 50% decrease in the content of 1,8-cineole with increasing NaCl concentrations, concomitant with a slight increase in borneol content.

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