Combined effects of salinity stress and methanol application on growth and physiology of melon plants

An experiment was conducted to examine the combined effects of salinity stress and methanol application on the growth and physiology of melon (Cucumis melo L.). Plants grown with optimum nutrition in a glasshouse were irrigated every day with either tap water (well-watered plants) or water containing 1% of NaCl (salt-stressed plants). Half of the well-watered and salt-stressed plants were also sprayed every week with 20% methanol solution. Although salinity stress reduced plant growth and physiological function, methanol application did not affect plant water relations, gas exchange, or growth in either salt-stressed or well-watered plants. Thus, it is concluded that methanol application had no beneficial effect in melon during either salt-stressed or unstressed conditions.