The Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Performances of Salt Stressed Strawberry Plants, Enzymes Activity, and Salt Tolerance Index

Abstract

The influence of salicylic acid (SA) on growth, yield, fruits’ quality and enzymes’ activities was monitored in strawberry plants cv. Camarosa grown under salinity stress via two pot experiments in two successive years of 2018 and 2019. The examined concentrations of SA were 30, 60, and 90 ppm, which foliary applied in addition to control (sprayed with water), while the used levels of salinity were 20, and 40 mM as NaCl as irrigation application in addition to control (without salinity). The results showed a significant effect of salinity at 40 mM where the mean values of shoot fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll, leaves’ NPK, yield plant−1, yield ha−1, and fruits’ ascorbic acid were significantly decreased. However, the 40 mM salinity resulted in a significant increase in leaves’ content of Na and proline as well as catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes’ activity and the fruits’ TSS and acidity. The application with 90 ppm SA was found to be the most significant positive treatment for all of the studied characters except the Na leaves’ content. Regarding tolerance index percentages (STI%), the high values of CAT, POD, and proline referred to the ability to use them as indicators for strawberry salinity response in other physiological and plant breeding studies. The findings of this study suggest that the 90 ppm SA foliar application can ameliorate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of strawberry cv. Camarosa.

Effect of Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid on Morphological, Biochemical, Anatomical, and Productivity Characteristics of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Plants

“…SA influences numerous important physiological functions in plants, such as increasing the uptake of nutrients and decreasing Na + concentrations under salt stress [ 22 , 23 ]. Similarly, [ 26 ] researchers have reported that increasing the concentration of SA up to 90 ppm mitigates the negative effect of salinity on N, P, and K concentrations and decreases the Na + content of strawberry leaves under high levels of NaCl (40 mM). It was reported that the foliar supplementation of SA at 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mM reduced the Na uptake of plants and was efficient in enhancing nutrient uptake by cotton seedlings grown under 150 mM NaCl [ 28 ].…”

“…The decrease of plant growth under salt stress may be due to the reduction in cell division and elongation [ 38 ]; there is also a destructive impact of NaCl on different physiological pathways and molecular changes through impaired photosynthesis, nutrient imbalances, stomatal impedance to water flow, alterations in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts and mitochondria (which affect the natural metabolism), and hormonal imbalances [ 39 , 40 ]. Earlier studies [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 41 ] showed that SA could reduce salt damage in various plants. The exogenous application of SA is expected to control stomatal opening under stress, and this decreases transpiration and water loss, sustains turgor, and controls plant growth and productivity under stress conditions [ 33 , 42 ].…”

“…In this research, the results show that increased salinity of up to 8000 ppm decreased concentrations of N, P, and K ( Figure 5 ). This may be due to an ionic imbalance [ 26 ] resulting from a disorder in the integrity of the plasma membranes of cells [ 53 ] in addition to a converse relationship between Na and other elements [ 54 ]. SA influences numerous important physiological functions in plants, such as increasing the uptake of nutrients and decreasing Na + concentrations under salt stress [ 22 , 23 ].…”

“…It also has enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and proline (Pro) content [ 24 ]. Although the beneficial effects of SA in terms of salinity have been studied in several crops, such as peppers ( Capsicum annuum ) [ 25 ], strawberries ( Fragaria × ananassa ) [ 26 ], common beans ( P. vulgaris ) [ 27 ], cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ) [ 28 ], and rice ( Oryza sativa ) [ 29 ], there are few studies on the effects of SA on the anatomical characteristics of cowpea plants under salt stress.…”

Physiological and Qualitative Response of Cucurbita pepo L. to Salicylic Acid under Controlled Water Stress Conditions

“…However, environmental stimuli such as light, temperature, water, and other factors are in charge of stimulating these mechanisms [8]. Roshdy and colleagues reported high value of CAT and POX activities of strawberry leaves by increasing salinity levels and SA concentration [59]. There are some reports about the effects of SA on transit accumulation of ABA and control of antioxidant enzymes activity on the response of the plants to drought stress [60].…”