The effect of nano silicon application on yield and quality in rocket (Eruca sativa L.) under salt stress conditions

In the study investigating the effectiveness of Nano Silicon (NSi) applications to increase salt tolerance in rockets, Depuis 1743 rocket variety was used as material. For stress plants, 50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl (salt) doses were applied 20 days after seed sowing and planting, and in NSi applications, 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM Nano-Si doses were applied together with salt stress, once a week. It was applied by foliar spraying method. Plants harvested at the end of stress, shoot fresh and dry weights, leaf area, total yield, leaf water content (YOSI), SPAD, shoot parts Na, Cl, K and Ca content, total chlorophyll and antioxidant, Vitamin C, SÇKM, titratable acidity content were examined. Salt stress caused a decrease in plant growth parameters, total yield and YOSI, SPAD, K, Ca, total chlorophyll content, there was an increase in Na and Cl ion concentration, total antioxidant activity, Vitamin C and MDA content. On the other hand, in Nano-Si applications with salt stress, on average, 3-160% in fresh and dry weight compared to salt stress, 2-104% in leaf area, 3-164% in total yield, 7-34% at YOSI values, 3-40% in K content, 5-47% in Ca content, An 11-68% improvement in total chlorophyll content was achieved. Additionally, Na ion uptake is limited to 5-33% and Cl- ion uptake is limited to 6-36%. As a result of the study, it was determined that Nano-Silicon applications improved the damage caused by salt stress at varying rates and were effective in increasing tolerance, and 0.50 mM and 1.00 mM Nano-Silicon applications came to the fore among the applications in terms of this positive effect.