EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON GROWTH AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF Aglaonema simplex CULTURES

The effects of salinity on growth and chlorophyll content were studied in Aglaonema simplex cultures. The cultures were subjected to 0, 25 and 50 mM of NaCl for 28 days. The growth and total chlorophyll contents were measured every 0, 1, 2, 7, 14 and 28 days of treatment periods. NaCl treatments significantly increased the fresh and dry weights of the cultures while the plant height, root length, leaf length and leaf width were significantly decreased, especially at the latter stages of treatment periods. NaCl also caused a decrease in the chlorophyll content, especially after 2 days of experiment. The results indicate that NaCl caused oxidative stress in A. simplex cultures which affect their growth and chlorophyll content.