EFFECT OF SILICON APPLICATION ONTALIOUINE CROCUS SATIVUS (L) CULTIVATION UNDERSALT STRESS

This study investigates the effect of silicon (Si) application on saffron plantgrown under salt stress. Therefore; Saffron, Crocus sativus L. was grown in different treatments of NaCl in presence and absence of 1 mM of silicon in its soluble form, orthosilicic acid(H4SiO4). Our results exhibited that the application of silicon enhanced the physiologicalstudied parameters and morphological attributes of saffron stigmas; the length of stigma improvement was 29% and 41,4% in saline treatments of 50 mM and 100mM respectively in presence of silicon compared to the same treatments without silicon, the dry weight of the stigma boosted by 40% for the treatment of 50mM of NaCl and 20% for 100 mM treatments compared to the same treatments in absence ofsilicon. Siliconaddition ameliorated RWC, total phenolic,anti-radical leaves activity and K+ contents and K+/Na+ ration in both roots and leaves. These results suggested that Si application enhanced saffron plant and improved the weight and length of saffron stigma