Growth and chemical constituents of ceiba pentandra L. plant in response to different levels of saline irrigation water

An experimental trial was consummated throughout two successive seasons (2006/07 and 2007/08) at the nursery of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. It was intended to find out how far Ceiba pentandra L plant can withstand various salinity levels (1500, 3000, 4500 and 6000 ppm) of irrigation, to assess the possibility of planting such plant in new areas such as coastal lands. Accordingly, the previous salinity levels were tested for their effects on growth, development and chemical constituents. The results revealed that using the lowest salinity levels (1500 and 3000 ppm) had a beneficial effect on some plant traits, as they increased plant height, number of leaves/plant, fresh and dry weights of compound leaves, root length and fresh and dry weights of roots as well as stem diameter with only 3000 ppm of saline water. The contrary action was detected due to increasing salinity levels to 4500 and 6000 ppm in few cases as they decreased leaflet and compound leaf areas. Chemical constituents of the different plant parts were also affected by the different salinity levels. All of them revealed a beneficial effect on total carbohydrates content in leaves, especially with the lowest levels (1500 and 3000 ppm), whereas in stem, the best result was gained as a result of salinity treatments at 1500, 3000 and 4500 ppm. The low levels (1500 and 3000 ppm) also caused an increment in indole content in leaves, whereas the highest one (6000 ppm) caused a decrement. Phenols as well as phenols/indoles ratio in the leaves increased progressively by increasing salinity level. Meanwhile, pigment content showed a decrement in plants receiving the different salinity levels, especially the highest one (6000 ppm).Thus, it could be concluded that Ceiba pentandra L withstands salinity level up to 6000 ppm, with beneficial effects in some instances.