Effect of drought and salinity stress on germination and seedling growth of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

In order to study the effect of different levels of drought and salinity stress on germination seedling growth of Coriandrum sativum, two separate experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications under laboratory conditions; the first experiment was consisted of five levels of salinity stress (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl) and The second experiment also included five levels of drought (0, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of PEG). Results showed that with increasing in salinity and drought, percentage of germination, root length and shoot length of Coriander seedlings significantly reduced, but the germination rate showed an increasing trend up to 150 mM. The highest germination percentage in salinity and drought conditions related to control and the lowest related to 200 mM and 30%, respectively. There is no significant effect for dry weight of root and shoot in salinity treatments, this trend was for dry weight of root in drought treatments, but was significant for dry weight of shoot, therefore the lowest dry was related 30% PEG.