Effect of salt stress on seed germination and early seedling growth of chamomile plant

Abstract

Chamomile is a widely cultivated plant used for its medicinal value and aroma. It’s cultivated successfully with reliable seed germination. Soil salinity is a global problem for plant growth, as it reduces seed germination rate and plant productivity. This review shows the salt stress on chamomile and studies its physiology and biochemistry. Saline environment affects chamomile growth and early seedling germination by restricting the water uptake and disrupting the hormonal and enzymatic balance, and also affects physiologically and biochemically. To overcome this problem, there are mitigation strategies such as seed priming, including hydro-, osmo-, hormonal-, and biostimulant-based methods, and bio priming, which improve the early development and ion exchange with the help of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). Future research should focus on integrating physiological, biochemical, and molecular analyses with advanced priming technologies and ecofriendly nanomaterial-based coatings to strengthen germination under salinity and other abiotic stresses.