PJB-2025-300
IMPACT OF SALICYLIC ACID ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF HELIANTHUS ANNUS L. UNDER CHROMIUM STRESS
Asia Khatoon
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination in soils is of major concern for agricultural productivity. Chromium (Cr) stress has an adverse effect on photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, and induces oxidative stress, ultimately reducing the quality of crop yield. Plant growth and development is enhanced during normal as well as under abiotic stress conditions by foliar application of salicylic acid (SA). This study aimed to search the effect of foliar application of SA on the growth, yield, and biochemical parameters of Helianthus annuus L. cultivars Hysun-33 and SF-5009 under chromium stress. Chromium stress (10 and 20 mgkg-1) was mitigated using SA (0.25 and 0.5 mM) after three weeks of germination. Growth parameters such as percent germination, shoot and root length, and the dry/fresh weight of both the shoot and root were adversely affected by Cr stress, but its effect was minimized by the SA. A reduction in protein and chlorophyll content and an enhancement in peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed under Cr Stress. However, the above parameters were further enhanced by the foliar spray of SA. The yield also increased under Cr stress by the application of SA. The highest increases in the number of achenes and weight per head were recorded as 61% and 25%, respectively, at T3 (10 mg Cr + 0.5 mM SA). The findings revealed that Cr adversely affected growth, yield, and biochemical parameters, while the application of SA improved these factors. Among the two varieties of sunflower, SF-5009 performed better than Hysun-33.
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