Zucchini cultivation under salt stress and exogenous application of paclobutrazol

Abstract

Salinity is considered an obstacle to the production system that limits the growth and yield of crops around the world. Therefore, it is essential to develop strategies to minimize the effects of salinity and increase yield, especially in the semi-arid region of the Northeast, which has limited water resources of good quality for irrigation. The objective was to evaluate the effects of applying paclobutrazol on zucchini crop under salt stress. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a randomized block experimental design, in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme, with two salinity levels of irrigation water (0.6 and 4.0 dS m-1) and five concentrations of paclobutrazol - PBZ (0; 2; 4; 6 and 8 g L-1), and with four repetitions. Application of 8 mg L-1 PBZ increases stem diameter in zucchini under irrigation of 4.0 dS m-1. Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents increase with PBZ concentration of 4 mg L-1 and irrigation of 0.6 dS m-1. PBZ concentration of 4 mg L-1 increases the relative water content while reducing electrolyte leakage in zucchini under salinities of 4.0 and 0.6 dS m-1 respectively. Root, stem and leaf dry mass of zucchini increases when plants are irrigated with water of 0.6 dS m-1 and subjected to PBZ concentration of 8 mg L-1. PBZ concentrations do not attenuate the effects of salinity on leaf area, crown volume and diameter, vegetative vigor index, chlorophyll a and carotenoids.