Evaluating Tolerance of Ground Covers Phyla nodiflora L. and Frankenia thymifolia Desf. to Simultaneous Salinity and Drought Stresses

A remarkable part of Iran is surrounded by arid and semi-arid areas, which are faced with drought and salinity stresses. Today, the management of salinity and drought stresses in the landscape, has a particular importance. In this study, the drought and salinity tolerance of Phyla and Frankenia were investigated, which consisted of 12 treatments (Four levels of salinity at 0.5, 3, 6 and 9 dS/m and three irrigation levels including100%, 75% , 50% of field capacity) and performed in 5 replications. The results showed that shoots length, amount of starch and water relative content of shoots were reduced. On the other hand, amount of glucose and proline, activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbite peroxidase, peroxidase enzymes and ion leakage were increased under drought and salinity stresses. Phyla showed a higher relative water content and a lower ion leakage in comparison with Frankenia, which shows higher tolerance of Phyla to drought and salinity stresses.