Abstract
Improvement in thermotolerance of major cash crops by exogenous application of salicylic acid is an important way to promote economic utilization. Salicylic acid is an important plant growth regulator, commercially utilized to enhance tolerance in plants against harsh environments. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of foliar application of different salicylic acid concentrations (0. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mM) on thermotolerance of three cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties - “Bt 703”, ‘Bt 131”, and “Bt 3701”- at control (28± 2 O C) and heat shocked (HS) (42±2 O C) cotton seedlings. Heat stress damages were quantified by H2O2 production, malondialdehyde content (MDA), osmolyte (Proline) accumulation, and total soluble proteins (TSP). Results revealed that foliar application of salicylic acid minimized heat shock damages; however, different concentrations showed varied responses. Heat stressed seedlings with salicylic application showed increased plant dry matter, free proline accumulation, and total soluble protein content as compared to minus salicylic acid stressed seedlings. The above mentioned responses were better in “Bt 703” among the cultivars, making its position thermotolerant. The best responses for most of the above parameters were with the application of 1.0 mM SA. These findings suggest that exogenous application of SA could mitigate the deleterious effects of HS on Gossypium hirsutum seedlings and offer an efficient, economic, and simple means to enhance SH tolerance of the cotton.
Published Version
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