Phytochemical and Morphological Attributes of Borage (<i>Borago officinalis</i>) Affected by Salicylic Acid as an Enhancer

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the response of borage (Borago officinalis) phytochemical and morphological attributes in relation to application of different levels of salicylic acid. Borage planted in pots and salicylic acid was sprayed on the shoots at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM with 6 replications in a completely randomized block design. Morphological attributes such as shoot height, shoot dry matter, flower dry matter, flower weight and shoot wet weight were measured. In the other hand, phytochemical attributes such as ion leakage, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoid, and antioxidant activity were also investigated under induced stress by different concentrations of salicylic acid. Results showed that some morphological traits such as shoot dry matter (31.23%), flower dry matter (20.43%), flower weight (38.54 g), shoot wet weight (109.43 g), possessed the highest values under treatment of 1.5 mM salicylic acid. Also, some phytochemical traits in plants treated with 1.5 mM salicylic acid reached the highest values during the growth stage with the exception of ion leakage (0.54%). These measured traits with higher values consisted of chlorophyll a (4.16 mg.l -1 ), chlorophyll b (1.65 mg.l -1 ), total chlorophyll (5.81 mg.l -1 ), carotenoid (1.18 mg.l -1 ), antioxidant activity (53.73%).