Morfologi Bawang Merah (Allium ascalonicum L.) Pada Cekaman Kekeringan Terhadap Aplikasi Asam Salisilat

Abstract

Shallots are the vegetable crop with the highest production in Indonesia. However, the problem with cultivating shallots is that they are not resistant to environmental stress such as drought. The decrease in soil water content to 60% of available water has caused a drought stress effect on shallot plants. The strategy that can be used to limit the harmful effects of lack of water on shallots is the application of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid plays an important role that enhances plant growth and development under drought stress conditions by reducing cell membrane damage in water-stressed plant leaves by reducing cellular lipid peroxidation and H2O2 accumulation. This research aimed to study the growth, yield and physiological responses of shallots under drought stress conditions with the application of salicylic acid. This research was carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan from April to June 2024. This research used a factorial randomized block design with 2 treatment factors. The first factor of antioxidant spraying consisted of 4 levels, namely 0 mM (control), 0.5 mM, 1 mM and 1.5 mM. The second factor was the level of drought stress (percentage of soil water content) which consisted of 3 levels, namely 80%, 60% and 40% FC. The results showed that drought stress decreased plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight. Meanwhile, application of salicylic acid up to 1 mM could increas shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight.