Influence of salinity on the growth and development of pansies (Viola x wittrockiana Gams.)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determinate the influence of salinity on the growth and development of pansies (Viola x wittrockiana Gams.). The objective of the present study was to examine the cultivation area selection and use of pansies related to the autumn and winter flowering aspects. A total of 40 pansy seedlings were included in the study and allocated to four groups of ten each. The experiment conducted four involved treatments: control (K), treatment with 3g/l NaCl (T1), treatment with 5g/l NaCl (T2), and treatment with 7 g/l NaCl (T3). Concentrated water was used for watering the seedlings observed during growth. Over the course of the eight-week experiment, the following quantitative and qualitative properties of the pansy seedlings were measured: height, number of leaves, number of flowers, diameter of flowers, length of leaves, width of leaves, as well as the vitality and decorativeness of the pansy seedlings. The results obtained show that pansies can tolerate increased amounts of salt (5 g/l and 7 g/l NaCl) with adverse effects on the growth, development, vitality and decorativeness of the plant.