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Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) has been used as a forage crop in some parts of the world. Forage chicory is a highly digestible, nonbloating feed source which is characterized by high nutritive and mineral contents. However, limited information is available on nutritional qualities, chemical compositions, and yield of different genotypes of chicory. Therefore, a 2‐yr study was conducted to evaluate the qualitative traits and forage yield of chicory genotypes. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications using eight chicory genotypes ('Ardestan,' 'Hamadan,' 'Shiraz,' 'Mazandaran,' 'Sanandaj,' 'Kashan,' 'Yazd,' and 'Mashhad'). The crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash content (ASH), non‐fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and dry herbage yield (DHY) were significantly influenced by genotypes. Yazd was the superior chicory genotype compared to tested genotypes in terms of high CP, ASH, NFC, N, K, Cu, and Zn and low NDF and ADF contents, while Sanandaj showed the highest forage yield. Our results indicate that chicory can be considered as a promising forage crop in a semi‐arid environment and also allows for the selection of better genotype for direct cultivation or breeding purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Salinity can affect Chicory (Cichorium intybus) performance as an important medicinal, food and feed plant. • Salt stress led to significant decline in relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll and carotenoid content and biomass production of C. intybus.Salt stress also led to significant increase in leaf prolin content and Malondialdehyde content of C. intybus. • Foliar application of SA can play a role in diminishing deleterious effects of salinity stress and reinforcing chicory plant tolerance to salt stress. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is an important medicinal, food and feed plant. Salinity can affect its growth and quality to some extent. However, adverse effects of salinity may be alleviated upon selecting salt tolerant genotypes and application of salicylic acid. Therefore, a 2-year pot experiment was conducted with three salinity levels (control, 65 mM and 130 mM NaCl), three levels of foliar application of salicylic acid (0, 0.5 mM and 1 mM SA) and seven chicory genotypes (Ardestan, Hamedan, Shiraz, Mazandaran, Sanandaj, Kashan and Yazd). Treatment characterized with 65 and 130 mM salinity levels led to significant decrease in relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b) and carotenoid (Car) contents and shoot dry weight (SDW) while significant increase in leaf proline (LPC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Moreover, the highest changes in measured traits were observed at salinity level of 130 mM. Salicylic acid application at levels of 0.5 and 1 mM SA significantly ameliorated all measured traits and the greatest values were attributed to 1 mM SA. Among genotypes, Sanandaj accounted for the highest measured traits but the lowest content of MDA while Ardestan characterized with the lowest measured traits and the highest content of MDA. Salinity decreased MSI, Car and SDW while it increased LPC and MDA in all genotypes with different magnitude. Application of SA reduced MDA in all genotypes and also led to increase in RWC, MSI, Chl a, Chl b, Car, LPC and SDW and diminution in MDA under control and specially under salt stress conditions. Sanandaj with the application of 1 mM SA under control and saline conditions was the best genotype among all genotypes. The results suggested that SA may improve performance of chicory genotypes under control and saline conditions by announcing physiochemical traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]