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Abstract
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Salinity is one of the predominant abiotic stress factors that infuence the growth and productivity of
plants. Salinity adversely impacts the growth responses via ionic toxicity, osmotic stress, impaired
nutrients uptake, hormonal disparity, and the over-production of reactive oxygen species. To study
the efects of salinity stress (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) and foliar treatments (dH2O, 2 g L−1 Dobogen
biostimulant, 2 g L−1 KNO3, and 2 g L−1 d-glucose) on the growth and physiological responses of
Tanacetum balsamita, a factorial experiment was conducted based on the completely randomized
design at the research greenhouse of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Iran. The results showed
the signifcant interaction efects of salinity and foliar sprays on chlorophyll a, K+
, Na+
, Mg2+, Fe2+,
Zn2+, Mn2+, and Si content, K/Na ratio, and total phenolics and favonoids content. The highest
phenolic content was acquired with 100 mM salinity and foliar spray of Dobogen and glucose, 50 mM
NaCl × KNO3 application, and 50 mM salinity ×no-foliar application. The highest K/Na ratio was
observed in control plants and controls × KNO3 and/or Dobogen application. The greatest Si content
was recorded with no-salinity×Dobogen and KNO3 applications and no-saline×no-foliar (control)
plants. The independent efects of treatments infuenced malondialdehyde, favonoids, proline
contents, and catalase activity. Chlorophyll b and superoxide dismutase were afected by the salinity.
Total soluble solids and Ca2+ content were responsive to the foliar applications. Malondialdehyde
and proline content was the highest at 150 mM salinity. Salinity adversely afected the physiological
responses of costmary. However, foliar treatments partially ameliorated the salinity efect, and the
results with more detailed studies would be advisable to the extension section and pioneer farmers.
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