Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2006.2812.2817Plantago species]]>RahimiA. JahansozM. R.MashhadiH.R. RahimianPostiniK. SharifzadeF. 122006915General responses to drought and salt stress was investigated in two Plantago species including Plantago ovata and P. psyllium. Seeds were treated with aqueous solutions of 0, -0.2, -0.4, -0.6 and -0.8 Mpa NaCl and iso-osmotic concentration of polyethylene glycol 8000. NaCl of -0.6 and -0.8 Mpa caused more delay in germination than the iso-osmotic solution of PEG. However, germination frequency was strongly affected by drought and salinity stress, such that only 20% of the P. ovata and 30% P. psyllium seeds germinated in -0.6 Mpa Osmotic Potential (OP) during the first week of incubation. The rate of germination was decreased with an increase in osmotic potential in both drought and salinity stress, however drought had much effect on the rate of germination. All treatment of NaCl and PEG were inhibitory to root and shoot elongation of seedlings in both species relative to the distilled water controls; however, NaCl affected seedling root and shoot elongation more severely specially in P. ovata. Recovery of their germination capacity after transferring the treated seeds to distilled water was determined and in all cases except in OP of -0.2 Mpa, high germination frequencies of more than 80% were observed after 1-2 week of incubation in distilled water.]]>Erdei, L. and P.J.C. Kuiper,1979+ uptake and translocation in salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant Plantago species.]]>479599Greenway, H. and R. Munns,198031149190Jefferies, R.L., T. Rudmik and E.M. Dillon,197964989994Keiffer, C.H. and I.A. Ungar,199784104111Khan, M.A. and I.A. Ungar,199784279283Khan, M.A., I.A. Ungar and A.M. Showalter,2000Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk.]]>457384Lambers, H.,200325757Lauchli, A. and E. Epstein,19901990pp: 113-137pp: 113-137Smekensa, M.J., and H.P. Van Tienderen,2001Plantago coronopus under saline conditions.]]>22187200Michel, B.E. and M.R. Kaufmann,197351914916Muhling, K.H. and A. Lauchli,2002159137146Munns, R.,200225239250Osmond, C.B., O. Bjorkman and D.J. Anderson, 1980Atriplex.]]>1st Edn.,Pujol, J.A., J.F. Calvo and L. Ramirez-Diaz,200085279286Runsted, N., E. Go bel, H. Franzyk and H. Rosendal,200055337348Sheehy Skeffington, M.J. and D.W. Jeffrey,1985Plantago maritima in response to nitrogen and salinity.]]>61265272Simon, E.W.,19841984pp: 77-115pp: 77-115Tester, M. and R. Davenport,2003+ tolerance and Na+ transport in higher plants. ]]>91503527Ungar, I.A.,19951995pp: 599-628pp: 599-628Vicente, O., M. Boscaiu, M.A. Naranjo, E. Estrelles, J.M. Belles and P. Soriano,2004Plantago crassifolia (Plantaginaceae).]]>58463481Koyro, H.W.,2006Plantago coronopus (L.).]]>56136146Zahoor, A., A. Ghafor and A. Muhammad,2004Plantago ovata A Crop of Arid and Dry Climates with Immense Herbal and Pharmaceutical Importance.]]>