Evaluating the physiological and hormonal responses of caper plant (Capparis spinosa) subjected to drought and salinity

Abstract

In order to investigate the effect of drought and salinity stress on caper plant (<em>Capparis</em> <em>spinosa</em><strong>)</strong>, a factorial experiment including two factors consisting of drought and salinity levels based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five blocks were carried out at College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. After pretreatment, seeds were germinated in petri dishes and then transported to pots, to grow out of the glasshouse under natural conditions (same as environmental condition). Measuring morphological (Plant height, number of leaves, length of greatest leaf, root length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight, and chlorophyll (pad) and also physiological traits (relative water content (RWC) and water saturated deficit (WSD) for both root and shoot, root water content (RooWC) and leaf water content (LWC) showed that salinity and drought stresses as well as ABA concentration had negative effects on the plant. ABA content was significantly higher in salt-treated plants than in drought treated ones. The injury effect of salt stress was lower than drought. The results also indicated that the changes in response to the two stresses were low and so that this plant could be a suitable candidate for sowing and using in arid and semi-arid regions and also in saline condition.