Sophora alopecuroides L. response to salt stress at germination and seedling growth stages

Sophora alopecuroides L. is a perennial herb that has been widely used in pharmaceutical industry due to the high alkaloid level in its seeds which can be considered for medical usages. In this study, response of S. alopecuroides to five NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) was investigated. The study was evaluated in two steps, seed germination and seedling growth. The results showed that sodium chloride induced salt stress significantly affected seed germination and seedling growth of S. alopecuroides in a concentration-dependent manner; generally, low concentrations enhanced seed germination and seedling growth while high concentrations limited plant growth. Seed germination was more sensitive to salt stress than seedling growth, and root growth was more sensitive to salt stress than shoot growth in seedling growth stage. In conclusion, S. alopecuroides were resistant 100 mM NaCl and in higher concentrations of NaCl, seed germination and seedling growth parameters reduced.   Key words: Sophora alopecuroides L., salt stess, seed germination, seedling growth.