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Abstract
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Lavandula stoechas L. plant is a perennial evergreen used as a fragrant
ornamental and medicinal plant. In order to study the effect of foliar
spray of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) (0, 1000, and 2000 mgL−1 ) and sodium chloride
(NaCl) salinity (0, 75, and 150 mM) on some physiological characteristics of
Lavandula stoechas L. plants, a pot experiment was carried out at the
Research Greenhouse of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Iran.
Physiological characteristics [root and leaf dry weights, total soluble solids
(TSSs), total anthocyanins, chlorophyll b, Zn2+, potassium (K+) contents, and
K+/Na+ ratio] were significantly affected by the interaction effects of ZnSO4
foliar application and salinity levels. The highest root dry weight, chlorophyll b, anthocyanin, and Zn contents as well as TSS were found in the
plants with NaCl0 × ZnSO4 2000 mgL−1 . For Na+, the greatest value was
recorded with NaCl 150 × ZnSO40. The highest K+/Na+ ratio was found in the
control plants. Foliar application of ZnSO4 promoted the total phenolic
content, especially at 2000 mgL–1 . The highest amounts of flower dry
weights were recorded at NaCl0. Chlorophyll a, total flavonoids, stem dry
weight, and essential oil content were affected with ZnSO4 treatment and
salinity levels. The highest values for the essential oil content, chlorophyll a
content, and stem dry weight were attained by the nonsaline treatment.
Both foliar application levels positively influenced the essential oil and
flavonoid contents of the plants. The results reveal that zinc application
had marked effects on the physiological characteristics of Lavandula stoechas L. plants growing under salinity stress conditions.
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