Effect of exogenous foliar salicylic acid application on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) morphological characters, seed yield and oil content under different irrigation regimes

Abstract

Soil water deficit is one of the major constraints limiting crop productivity in semi-arid environment. This study was conducted to examine the possible role of salicylic acid application in improving the yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under different irrigation regimes. There were two levels of irrigation, viz. control (normal irrigations) and water stress at productive stage (irrigation missing at flowering stage). SA were applied exogenously at 0 (distilled water), 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM. Drought stress had significant effects on plant height, number of branches, number of seeds per pods, 1000-seed weight and seed yield and these characters decreased from normal irrigation regime to water deficit stress. Between different SA dozes, 0.05 mM were greater for most of measured traits. Means comparison of interactions effects between two experimental factors showed that the greater number of pods per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed oil and protein content and seed yield in both environment with 0.05 mM application of salicylic acid. * Corresponding Author: Reza Talebi  srtalebi@yahoo.com