Influence of salt stress on growth, ion accumulation and seed oil content in sweet fennel

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the effect of 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl on growth, ion accumulation, seed yield, and seed oil content in 67-d-old plants of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Increasing NaCl concentration caused a significant reduction in fresh and dry masses of both shoots and roots as well as seed yield. Na(+) and Cl(-) in both shoots and roots increased, whereas K(+) and Ca(2+) decreased consistently with the increase in NaCl concentration. Plants maintained markedly higher Ca(2+)/Na(+) ratios in the shoots than those in the roots, whereas that of K(+)/Na(+) ratios remained almost uniform in both shoots and roots. Proline content in the shoots increased markedly at the highest NaCl concentration. Oil content in the seed decreased progressively with increase in salinity.