MORPHOMETRY AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF Salicornia bigelovii (Torr.) UNDER SEA WATER TREATMENTS AND Natrum muriaticum AS A SALINE STRESS MITIGATOR

Abstract

Background. Salicornia bigelovii (Torr) is a halophyte plant, whose cultivation could be optimized by applying eco-friendly homeopathic treatments, generating new applicable knowledge to reduce saline stress in this and other plant species. Objective. Evaluate physiological response in S. bigelovii plants irrigated with different proportions of seawater (AM), with application of the homeopathic medicine for human use Natrum muriaticum (HOM) in three cultivation periods, considering morphometric variables and chlorophyll content. Methodology. A completely randomized experimental design with factorial arrangement and four repetitions was applied. Factor one corresponded to four different proportions of AM (0, 25, 50 and 100%), factor two, to two HOM dynamizations in 7th and 13th centesimal dilution 1:99 and a control without HOM (NaM-0CH, NaM- 7CH and NaM-13CH) and factor three, at three cultivation periods (1, 2 and 3 months). The morphometric response variables evaluated were plant height (AP), stem thickness (GT), plant cover (CV), number of branches (NR) and chlorophyll content "a", "b" and total. Results. There were significant differences between treatments (p≤0.01). The CV and NR variables were favorably modified when applying NaM-7CH and NaM-13CH (p≤0.01 and 0.001, respectively). The highest AP was obtained with AM-0 / NaM-13CH and the highest GT with AM-50 / NaM-7CH (p≤0.01). The second degree interaction only affected the concentration of chlorophyll "b", with the highest values (p≤0.05) during T-2 with respect to T-1, indistinctly to the application of NaM and AM. The content of chlorophyll "a" and total was reduced with AM-50. Implications. The NaM-AM interaction modified the morphological expression of S. bigelovii (Torr) and the concentration of chlorophyll "a" and total. Conclusion. Positive morphological effects were observed at different salinity levels (% of AM) attributable to HOM treatments, such as higher AP with AM-0 / NaM-13CH and higher GT with AM-50 / NaM-7CH, but inconclusive results for chlorophylls. NaM is an eco-friendly alternative to increase the biomass production of S. bigelovii.