Effects of Abiotic Stress Conditions on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Medical Plant, Hyssop (Hyssopusofficinalis L.)

ABSTRACT: Plants in nature are continuously exposed to several biotic and abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity and exposure to heavy metals. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of heavy metals (Cd and Ni), osmotic stress caused by treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and salinity (NaCl) on germination and seedling growth of Hyssopusofficinalis, an important medicinal plant in the Lamiaceae. Germination rate decreased with increasing concentrations of the tested factors. Maximum germination (97%) was recorded in PEG (5%) treatment and the minimum percentage of germination was observed in NaCl (150 mM) with 58%. The maximum of root and shoot length were observed in Ni (100?M) with 80 and 113 mm respectively. In this study, osmotic stress has been improved seed germination of Hyssopusofficinalis. In general it can be expressed that root length was more affected by the studied treatments in compared to shoot length.