The effect of salicylic acid and calcium chloride on lipid peroxidation and the scavenging ability on radical of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) under salt stress

Kobra Mahdavian

doi:10.2298/botserb2102185m

Abstract

Salinity exerts harmful morphological, physiological, and metabolic effects on plants. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (SA 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mM) and calcium chloride (CaCl2 0, 50 and 100 mM), singly or in combination, on different morphological and physiological characteristics of chickpeas exposed to salt stress (0, 25 and 75 mM NaCl). The results showed that the addition of SA or Ca alone improved plant behaviour in the presence of NaCl. Also, the shoot and root length, dry weight, chlorophyll and carotenoids decreased under salinity, while malondialdehyde (MDA), the inhibition of DPPH radical, anthocyanine, and proline increased. However, the use of SA and Ca combined increased the shoot and root length and the dry weight, ameliorated the chlorophyll, carotenoids, and reducing sugars, and significantly reduced MDA and the inhibition of DPPH radical in the plants. These studies imply that SA and Ca caused a tolerance to NaCl which may be related to the regulation of antioxidative responses. It may also be suggested that a concentration of 1.5 mM salicylic acid and a concentration of 100 mM calcium are the most suitable concentrations to improve the physiological parameters of chickpeas under salinity conditions. Hence, by regulating the antioxidant system, SA and Ca play this role.

Highlights

Salinity induces oxidative stress and osmotic stress in plants, resulting in marked reduction in photosynthesis activities and leaf chlorophyll concentration, where the degree of salinity tolerance depends on the type of plant species (Ashraf et al 2010; Zafar et al 2018; Trabelsi et al 2019)
The maximum increase in shoot and root length was recorded as 24% and 54% respectively, under the combined application of NaCl (25 mM) and SA (1.5 mM), as compared to the plants treated with NaCl (25 mM) alone
This study showed that treatment with salicylic acid increased the chlorophyll concentrations, but was not as effective as calcium, indicating that in pigment maintenance, the role of calcium was more prominent than salicylic acid

Summary

Introduction

Salinity induces oxidative stress and osmotic stress in plants, resulting in marked reduction in photosynthesis activities and leaf chlorophyll concentration, where the degree of salinity tolerance depends on the type of plant species (Ashraf et al 2010; Zafar et al 2018; Trabelsi et al 2019). Accumulations of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids protect plants from salinity stress and play an essential role in osmotic regulation (de Pascale et al 2001; Winkel Shirley 2002). The generation of anthocyanins might enhance osmotic regulation necessary for protecting plants from the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and physiological stresses (Rouholamin et al 2015). Proline is one of the foremost essential osmoprotectants in plants, and it plays a vital role in tolerating. Salicylic acid is a phytohormone which plays an essential role in depletion during salinity and drought and is vital in the improvement and tolerance of salinity in several plant species (Shakirova et al 2003; Arfan et al 2007; Shahmoradi & Naderi 2018). Salicylic acid may serve to modify and increase plant tolerance to abiotic stresses

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