biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 53:523-529, 2009 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-009-0095-y

Contractile roots are the most sensitive organ in Crocus sativus to salt stress

S. M. Rajaei¹, V. Niknam^1,*, S. M. Seyedi², H. Ebrahimzadeh¹, K. Razavi²

¹ Department of Plant Biology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. Iran

² Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, I.R. Iran

Crocus sativus corms were grown in Perlite and watered by half-strength modified Hoagland nutrient solution containing 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl. Growth parameters and contents of proteins, proline, polyphenols, minerals and saccharides were studied in fibrous roots, contractile roots, corms and leaves. All plants remained alive and did not display any sign of foliar damage even at 200 mM NaCl. However, the salinity decreased growth, relative water content and increased contents of proline and Na⁺ in all organs. Total protein content was increased in corms and contractile roots but decreased in fibrous roots. Changes in protein pattern were also observed. Polyphenol content was increased by salinity in all organs except the leaves. As salinity increased, content of soluble saccharides decreased except in the contractile roots.

Keywords: hydroponic culture; NaCl; polyphenols; proline; protein; saffron crocus; sugars

Subjects: contractile roots; Crocus sativus; polyphenol; potassium; proline; proteins; relative water content (RWC); salinity; sodium; sugars

Received: March 29, 2007; Accepted: February 24, 2008; Published: September 1, 2009  Show citation