Ameliorative Effect of Salicylic Acid on Growth, Minerals and Nitrogenous Compounds ofVicia fabaL. Plants under Salt Stress

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the salt tolerance of three broad bean genotypes (Vicia faba L.) and to elucidate the stimulatory role of salicylic acid on the studied bean genotypes under salt stress. Growth, photosynthetic pigments, minerals, membrane integrity and some nitrogenous compounds were evaluated. The three studied broad bean genotypes varied in their salt tolerance and in their response to salicylic acid application. Salinity reduced the shoot growth, the photosynthetic pigments, K+ contents and total proteins while it improved proline, total amino acids, soluble proteins and Na+ contents. Increasing the NaCl-salt level caused more cell membrane injury and electrolyte loss. The Na+/K+ ratio increased with increasing salt concentration in old leaves than in young leaves of bean genotypes. Foliar application of 0.5 mM salicylic acid to the bean genotypes under the different salinity levels improved these attributes significantly. Exogenous salicylic acid succeeded to ameliorate the oxidative stress in bean salt-stressed genotypes especially at the most sensitive genotype Assiut84/4. It can be concluded that broad bean plants could be possibly cultivated in moderate saline soils due to its capacity for osmotic adjustment. Moreover, salicylic acid could be used as a promising compound in broad bean cultivation under salt stress conditions.