Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 9028, Jeddah-21413, Saudi Arabia
The effect of different salinity levels on germination, seedling growth, dry matter and some related metabolic parameters of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) caraway (Carum carvi L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and cumin (Cuminum cuminum L.) was studied. During germination, anise tolerated salinity up to 160 mM NaCl, coriander up to 200 mM NaCl, and caraway and cumin tolerated salinity up to 240 mM NaCl. Soluble protein in anise and coriander, and soluble carbohydrates in caraway and cumin remained unchanged under low and moderate levels of NaCl. At higher salinity levels, a marked progressive increase in proline and other amino acids in anise and coriander was observed. In caraway and cumin the increases in proline were accompanied by losses in other amino acids. Respiration rate was unaffected in anise and coriander up to 80 mM NaCl, or up to 120 mM in caraway and cumin. Above these values it increased progressively with salinity increase.
