Abstract
BackgroundGenerally, zinc (Zn) is an essential element and acts as a plant nutrient, but at higher concentrations, it is toxic. Higher uptake and translocation of Zn into plant tissues can cause serious physiological and biochemical alterations. However, salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenous regulator of growth and signaling molecule responsible for inducing environmental stress tolerance in plants. Therefore, spray application of SA could provide protection against several types of stresses such as Zn toxicity. In this context, the ameliorative effect of SA (0.5 and 1 mM) on Salvia officinalis L. under Zn stress (40 mM) was studied.ResultsZn stress decreased growth, chlorophyll content, essential oil yield and peltate glandular trichome density. This toxicity can be linked to a strong accumulation of Zn in the various parts of the plant. In addition, Zn stress disturbed nutrients assimilation (K, P and Ca). However, spray of SA, particularly at 0.5 mM improved all parameters studied under both Zn and normal conditions. The positive effects of SA under Zn stress condition may be due to the decrease of Zn accumulation in different parts of the plant. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in K, P and Ca content. In addition, the histological study of S. officinalis leaves showed the presence of two types of glandular hairs, the peltate and capitate glands. In the leaves of stressed plants, we noticed the presence of glands with deformations in the form of pockets in the number of one or more as well as the glands with an oval form. On the other hand, all these abnormalities glands were not detected in stressed plants that were sprayed with SA. Therefore, the absence of these anomalies under the effect of SA showed the remedial effect of this growth regulator.ConclusionThe findings of the present work suggest that spraying SA maybe useful for improving the plant growth in Zn-contaminated areas.
Highlights
Zinc (Zn) is an essential element and acts as a plant nutrient, but at higher concentrations, it is toxic
We investigated the influence of salicylic acid (SA) on the toxic effects of Zn stress on S. officinalis L. on plant growth, mineral uptake, essential oil yield and secretory glands
Zn stress significantly reduced total chlorophyll content
Summary
Zinc (Zn) is an essential element and acts as a plant nutrient, but at higher concentrations, it is toxic. Exogenous applications of growth regulators have been shown to be effective in improving plant growth and yield production under Zn stress. Among these regulators, SA is an endogenous growth regulator [16] naturally found in plants in very small quantities. SA is an endogenous growth regulator [16] naturally found in plants in very small quantities It is considered as a chemical messenger that plays an important role in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. It is relevant to examine the influence of SA on the regulation of various physiological and biochemical activities of S. officinalis L. grown under Zn stress
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