Effect of foliar applications of salicylic acid on mineral nutrition and some physiological properties of bread wheat genotypes under salt stress conditions

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid applications (0.0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mM) on plant dry matter productions, SPAD values, leaf relative water content (LRWC), membrane permeability and macro-micro nutrients in shoot at different salinity levels (control, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 dS m-1) under greenhouse conditions. Salt treatments significantly decreased both the shoot and the root dry matter productions. Dry matter production increasing effects of salicylic acid were observed in shoots at 2.5 and 5.0 dSm-1 salinity levels and in roots at 2.5 dSm-1 salinity level. SA increased SPAD values at 0, 2.5, and 5.0 dS m-1 levels. LRWC significantly decreased with increasing salinity. On the other hand, SA treatments significantly increased LRWC. Shoot sodium (Na) concentrations significantly increased with increasing salinity. Sodium concentrations significantly decreased with enhancing SA under 2.5 and 5.0 dSm-1 levels. At 0, 2.5 and 5 dSm-1 salinity levels, both K concentrations and K contents significantly increased with SA. In the same salinity levels, K/Na ratios also significantly increased with SA treatments. Nitrogen, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn ve Cu contents of the genotypes decreased dramatically with increasing salinity. At control treatments and 2.5 and 5.0 dS m-1 salt levels, increasing SA treatments enhanced both P concentrations and P contents of the genotypes. SA treatments increased Mn and Cu uptakes under both saline and non-saline conditions. Present findings revealed that SA treatments (especially 1.0 mM) were quite effective in alleviation of negative impacts of 5 dS m-1 and lower salinity levels.