EN
An hydroponic culture was conducted to investigate the effect of saline stress on the essential oil and fatty acid composition of Tunisian coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) roots. Ten days old coriander seedlings were treated during 3 weeks with different NaCl concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 75 mM). Roots volatile components and fatty acids were analyzed. The essential oil yield was 0.06% in the control, on the basis of dry matter weight, and did not changed at low concentration (25 mM), while it increased significantly with increasing NaCl concentrations to reach 0.12 and 0.21% at 50 and 75 mM NaCl, respectively. The major volatile component was (E)-2-dodecenal with 52% of total essential oil constituents, followed by decanal, dodecanal, (E)-2-tridecenal and (E)-2-dodecenal. Further, the amount of these compounds was affected differently by the NaCl level. Total fatty acid amount of coriander roots increased significantly only with 50 and 75 mM NaCl. Three major fatty acids: linoleic (43%), oleic (25.5%) and palmitic (21.6%) were identified. Linoleic acid amount remains unchanged at 25 mM, while it increased with raising NaCl concentrations. However, oleic acid amount decreased only at 25 mM and no effect was observed at 50 and 75 mM. Fatty acid percentages were differently affected by salt. The oleic/linoleic ratio was reduced with raising NaCl concentrations.