Comparative Analysis of Morphological, Physiological, Anatomic and Biochemical Responses in Relatively Sensitive Zinnia elegans ‘Zinnita Scarlet’ and Relatively Tolerant Zinnia marylandica ‘Double Zahara Fire Improved’ under Saline Conditions

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses in plants. The aim present study was to determine effects salinity on relatively sensitive Zinnia elegans Jacq. ‘Zinnita Scarlet’ and tolerant marylandica D.M. Spooner et al. ‘Double Zahara Fire Improved’ through a comparative analysis morphological, physiological, anatomic, biochemical traits. Plants were irrigated at five levels salt concentrations (0 [control], 50, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl) for three weeks one-day intervals pots under greenhouse conditions. stress plant growth parameters, ion leakage, loss turgidity, minimum fluorescence (FO’), nutrient elements, leaf anatomic stoma response application light abscisic acid perfusion, proline content, chlorophyll a, b total chlorophyll, carotenoid content investigated. Differences stages cultivar determined. Proline accumulation appeared be higher Double Improved (D.Za.F.I.) than Zinnita Scarlet (Zi.S.) low concentration salinity. After abscsic perfusion intact surfaces, stomata D.Za.F.I. closed earlier (7 min) Zi.S. (29 min). Ion leakage (32.3%) Na (0.9%) aerial parts increased dramatically Zi.S 50 NaCl treatment. Moreover, values photosynthetic pigments, elements all showed greater decreasing percentage compared Stomatal densities both abaxial adaxial surfaces decreased parallel with increase stress. Palisade parenchyma cell height thickness as increased. In D.Za.F.I., by up 100 while palisade cells high conditions (100 above). Recommendations future research include molecular-level evaluations how tolerance these potentially valuable ornamental cultivars.