Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) on alleviating Zn stress in young wheat plants. Two rigorous pot experiments were conducted with two spring wheat cultivars growing on soil artificially contaminated with Zn. The experimental design included three levels of soil contamination with Zn: 0, 300 and 700 mg kg−1, and three levels of SA concentration: 0, 0.5 and 1 mM. Foliar spray of SA was applied twice at an interval of two weeks. Wheat biomass was harvested two months after plant emergence. Both cultivars showed similar biomass reduction due to Zn phytotoxicity, but differed in the accumulation and distribution of this metal in the plant. The positive effect of SA foliar application was obtained only for one of the two tested cultivars, where a reduction in the Zn translocation from the roots to the aboveground part was observed. As a consequence, the decrease in biomass caused by the toxicity of Zn was limited. A greater positive effect of SA application on wheat biomass was observed at 700 than at 300 mg kg−1 Zn in soil. The different responses of the cultivars to the SA was probably related to their different defense mechanisms against Zn stress.
Highlights
Zinc is a metallic element in which both deficiency and excess are harmful to humans, animals and plants
Under natural soil Zn concentration (Zn0) without salicylic acid (SA), the Zura wheat cultivar produced about 10% less shoot biomass compared to the Lagwa cultivar (Figure 1)
At soil Zn1 concentration, shoot yield of both cultivars decreased compared to the plants grown on Zn (Ist factor): 0 (Zn0)
Summary
Zinc is a metallic element in which both deficiency and excess are harmful to humans, animals and plants. In some regions of the world, the deficiency of zinc in the human diet is a significant health problem [1], its excess is harmful to the environment in other regions. The main sources of excess Zn in soil are mining, metallurgy, the burning of fossil fuels and waste. Zinc contamination of soils is an environmental problem found worldwide. Most Zn is mined in China, where contamination of soils with this metal is common [2]. An excess of Zn in soil can be found in some areas of Poland, only 1.4% of soils in the country are contaminated with this element [4]
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