In vitro NaCl tolerances of Artemisia dracunculus

In vitro evaluation of salinity effects on Artemisia dracunculus was investigated using five NaCI concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 mM). The exposure to NaCl in multiplication and root stages affects, all the vegetative parameters which showed significant decrease with increaseing NaCl concentrations in the both stage. Biochemical and chemical parameters such as pigments, Na+, K+ and Cl- in plant were tested in order to put forward the relative tolerance of plant to salinity. Additionally, electrophoretic analysis of total soluble protein (SDS-PAGE) has revealed that plant subjected to NaCl showed induction in the synthesis of new polypeptides. This finding suggest that, the response of Artemisia dracunculus to salt stress may be accomplished by synthesis of new protein which could be in turn contribute to select a salt resistant lines. The highest values of estragol were obtained under non-salinity condition (control) using HPLC analysis .Salinity stress significantly decreased estragol.