Salicylic acid: physiological and biochemical changes in seeds and maize seedlings subjected to salt stress

Abstract

Several plant species have development limitations on saline soils; however under water stress situations salicylic acid (SA) may have defense function by acting as antioxidant. Thereby, this study was aimed at analyzing physiological changes occurring in maize seeds treated with SA and germinated on sodium chloride moistened substrate; as well as assessing the effect of antioxidant enzymes produced by the seedlings. To this, seeds were soaked into zero and 1 mM SA solutions, for 60 min., and germinated on different NaCl concentrations (0, 30, 90, and 180 mM), and afterwards evaluated for germination, germination speed index, initial growth, and effect of antioxidant enzymes on seedlings. For electrical conductivity test, the seeds were previously soaked in NaCl solutions with and without SA. The SA application has minimized damages induced by salt stress to maize seed germination by favoring their germination percent; however without SA was not able on maintaining seed viability over 90 mM. Seedling initial growth was impaired by increasing NaCl concentrations in substrate; and electric conductivity has shown low values for release of solutes in the presence of SA. Activity of antioxidant enzymes has increased until 30 mM NaCl concentration; however above such concentration activity of these enzymes was reduced. The SA maintains germination of corn seeds above 90 mM NaCl; however, generally it is not efficient to ensure vigor of seedlings.

Ácido salicílico atenua o efeito do estresse hídrico na germinação e crescimento inicial de plântulas de <i>Cereus jamacaru</i> DC

“…Tal resposta indica que a embebição das sementes com AS tende a promover uma resposta mais rápida durante a germinação em condições de estresse. Assim, em tais condições de estresse induzido, o ácido salicílico atua nas propriedades da membrana celular, estimulando a sinalização e expressão de genes que irão proporcionar uma maior produção de compostos fenólicos, e consequentemente, promover maior expressão do vigor das sementes [11,25].…”

Effects of irrigation water salinity and salicylic acid on germination and vigor of Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze

“…This increase concurs with Anaya, Fghire, Wahbi and Loufi (2018), who demonstrated a positive effect of salicylic acid at a dosage of 0.25 mM in the germination of fava bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds. The exogenous application of SA in seeds promotes the expression and signaling of genes that act on the properties of the cell membrane, resulting in greater production of phenolic compounds that can enhance the seeds with greater germination capacity (Tonel et al, 2013;T. I. Silva et al, 2018).…”

“…The search for mineral and organic inputs that have a mitigating effect on soil and irrigation water salts for sensitive and moderately sensitive plants is increasing in agriculture. Among these compounds, salicylic acid (SA) has shown positive impacts as a phenolic compound that acts in growth regulation, and in plant defense against abiotic stresses such as saline stress (Tonel, Marini, Bandeira, Morais, & Amarante, 2013;Miura & Tada, 2014;T. I. Silva et al, 2018).…”

Citrullus lanatus morphophysiological responses to the combination of salicylic acid and salinity stress

“…This acid acts as a regulator of plant development, taking part in several physiological processes, including defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses (Miura & Tada, 2014). This hormone has a defensive function against various types of stress, mainly due to its properties as an oxidizing agent in cell membrane cytoplasm, as well as its chemical structure (Tonel et al, 2013). Salicylic acid potentially generates a wide range of metabolic responses and measures photosynthetic parameters and plant water relations, depending on the applied concentration (Hayat et al, 2010).…”