Fennel outperforms ajwain and anise in saline environment: physiological response mechanisms in germinating seeds and mature plants

The potential of different medicinal species as alternative crops for saline conditions needs to be explored. Comparative physiological responses germinating seeds and mature plants three genotypes anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) salt were studied in a 2-year field experiment using 0 100 mcM, laboratory 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 mM NaCl. Catalase ascorbate peroxidase activities increased the salt-stricken all genotypes, but only activity salt-treated two under conditions. Chlorophyll K+ concentrations decreased, proline Na+ Na+/K+ Dry mass, grain yield, essential oil yield decreased salt-exposed across species. Germination, root, shoot length suppressed upon exposure water. Despite increasing trend polyphenol catalase peroxidases activities, with an increase NaCl concentration. Smaller adverse effects on germination attributes, yields evident. Moreover, greater antioxidative enzymes maintained observed. These findings indicate that have ability withstand salinity than other examined