Influence of sodium chloride salinity on growth and organic constituents of Catharanthus roseus G. don.

Effect of NaCl salinity (25, 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl added to soil in pot culture) were investigated on growth and some organic constituents in different parts of Catharanthus roseus G. Don, an important medicinal plant. It was observed that NaCl salinity reduced overall growth of this plant, which was highly significant at higher salinity levels only. The level of organic acids and total nitrogen in the leaves declined due to salt treatment. There was accumulation of soluble sugars in the leaves, particularly at lower salinity regimes and in the stem and roots at all salinity levels. Polyphenol metabolism in the plant appeared less influenced by salinity. NaCl salinity induced both qualitative and quantitative changes in the alkaloids of C. roseus.