Abstract
Ameliorative impact of salicylic acid (SA) on Vigna unguiculata L. (cowpea) cultivar IT93k-452-1 during water deficit stress was investigated. Plants were subjected to water deficit stress (WD) for 7 days at either the vegetative stage (DVS) or the reproductive stage (DRS) and the leaf water potentials (ψw) of -1.9 MPa and -2.01 MPa were obtained, respectively. Stress caused reductions in almost all parameters studied. 3 and 5 mM SA foliar treatment caused increases of 27% in leaf ψw, 94% in chlorophyll content, 75% in plant biomass, 7% in nitrate reductase activity and 38% in proline content in DVS plants while the impact was much lower in DRS plants. Stress stimulated almost 3-fold increase in antioxidant vitamin B12 in DVS plants and 40% increase in vitamin C in DRS plants and SA (3 mM) further increased the latter by 14%. Overall, SA had a protective influence on the water potential and growth of stressed plants accompanied by an increase in production of osmolyte proline and antioxidant vitamin C. Key words: Antioxidants, growth, salicylic acid, water stress.
Highlights
Water deficit stress elicits many different physiological responses in plants
Proline content of leaves was determined as described by Bates et al (1973). 0.5 g of dried ground leaves was homogenized in 10 ml 3% aqueous sulfosalicylic acid and the homogenate filtered through filter paper. 2 ml acid ninhydrin and 2 ml glacial acetic acid were added to 2 ml of the filtrate in a digestion tube and placed in a boiling water bath for 90 min
Leaf water potential of V. unguiculata L. cultivar IT93k452-1 was significantly reduced when plants were subjected to 7 days water deficit stress at the vegetative and reproductive stages (DVS and DRS respectively) of growth, with the reproductive stages (DRS) showing a greater decrease in water potential (Table 1)
Summary
Impact of salicylic acid on antioxidants, biomass and osmotic adjustments in Vigna unguiculata L. walp. during water deficit stress. Impact of salicylic acid on antioxidants, biomass and osmotic adjustments in Vigna unguiculata L. walp. (cowpea) cultivar IT93k-452-1 during water deficit stress was investigated. Plants were subjected to water deficit stress (WD) for 7 days at either the vegetative stage (DVS) or the reproductive stage (DRS) and the leaf water potentials (ψw) of 1.9 MPa and -2.01 MPa were obtained, respectively. 3 and 5 mM SA foliar treatment caused increases of 27% in leaf ψw, 94% in chlorophyll content, 75% in plant biomass, 7% in nitrate reductase activity and 38% in proline content in DVS plants while the impact was much lower in DRS plants. SA had a protective influence on the water potential and growth of stressed plants accompanied by an increase in production of osmolyte proline and antioxidant vitamin C
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
