Morphological and Physiological Characters of<i>Aloe vera</i>Subjected to Saline Water Irrigation

Abstract

Aloe vera is grown in arid climates where salinity can limit plant growth and development. A study was conducted to examine the morphological and physiological characters under salt stress. Plants were cultivated in pots and irrigated with freshwater (EC 450 μs cm−1) or saline lake water (EC 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 21 dS m−1). Results indicated that salinity influenced the plant growth and morphological traits and the biomass. Glucose, xylose, and mannose concentrations in leaf gel increased with increasing salinity up to 9 dS m−1 and decreased with higher saline concentrations. Aloin concentration increased with salt stress up to 15 dS m−1 that decreased at higher salinity concentrations.