Salt stress alters phytochemical, physio-biochemical, photosynthetic and antioxidant attributes of Satureja mutica

Forest savory (Satureja mutica Fisch. & C. A. Mey) is known as an oil-bearing plant which is used in the pharmaceutical, health and food industries. We studied the effect of 0, 50, 100 and150 mM NaCl on some physio-biochemical, photosynthetic and antioxidant characteristics in a greenhouse completely randomized design experiment (CRD, r = 3). Results showed that NaCl levels on average reduced the shoot dry weight, EO yield/plant, chlorophyll a, b, a+b, carotenoied and carvacrol content respectively by 40.90, 38.65, 38.39, 24.41, 34.92,444, and 63.90%. However NaCl levels on average increased leaf proline content (805.13%), leaf protein content (36.06%), SOD activity (392.98%), POD (115.52%), catalase activity (704.60%), EO percent (10.70%), p-cymene (58.06%), and thymol content (22.66%). Results confirmed that S. mutica tolerates salt less than 100 mM. Therefore, plantation of this species don’t recommend in the salty soils.