Effect of saltstress on growth, photosynthesis and chlorophyll content in Viola tricolor

In order to find out more suitable water for Vi o la tricolor irrigation, the effect of three water source with different salinity on growth, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content in two cultivars of Viola tricolor were investigated. The results show that the underground water in Xinxiang (EC=2.98 ms/cm) decrease the seedling germination percent in both cultivars, while significantly in ‘229.05’, comparing with Yellow River water(EC=0.81ms/cm). The underground water also decrease fresh and dry mass of plant, leaf area, length and number of root, chlorophyll a content and photosynthetic rate of leaf in both cultivars, significantly in ‘229.05’. However, the significant decrease of leaf number and plant aboveground just observed in ‘229.05’, indicating the salt tolerance of ‘HMB’ are stronger than that of ‘229.05’ and Yellow River water is suggested to irrigate V. tricolor in Xinxiang. It also imply that the response to salinity of root is more sensitive than that of plant aboveground.