Salinity effect on some of the morphophysiological traits of three plantago species (Plantago spp.)

In order to study the effect of salinity on morphological and physiological traits of psyllium, narrow leaf plantain and great plantain, an experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment based on the randomized complete block design with four replications at Research Greenhouse of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Treatments included of three plantago species (Plantago psyllium, P. lanceolata and P. major) and six salinity levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM). Results showed, the interaction of salinity and plantago species was significant on all traits except shoot/root ratio, Fo, stomatal conductance, MPI, RWC, photosynthesis, and Na content. Great plantain was the most tolerant and psyllium was the most sensitive species to salinity stress. It is indicated that, in 300 mmol/L levels of salinity, plantago species growth had stopped and the plants could not complete their life cycle.