Investigation of the physiological and biochemical effects of salicylic acid applications in maize (Zea mays L.) plant under salt stress

In this study, the effects of salicylic acid (SA) under salt stress in maize (Zea mays L.) ADA 9510 genotype were investigated. 50 µM SA was applied from the leaves and roots against 3 different salt concentrations (50, 75, 100 mM). After application; growth parameters, photosynthetic pigment content, chlorophyll derivatives and intermediates, chlorophyll a fluorescence, free proline, H2O2, MDA, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaicol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities are determined.While the severity of salt stress increased, antioxidant enzyme activities increased; growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment contents decreased. The application of SA decreased the antioxidant enzyme activity slightly; growth parameters increased (P <0,05). It also had positive effects on the amount of photosynthetic pigments (P <0,05). Salt stress showed the most negative effect at the concentration of 100 mM; the salt concentration of 75 mM in SA combination gave the best results (P <0,05). Leaf applications gave better results than root applications (P <0,05). According to the findings obtained in this research; exogenous SA against salt stress is gained higher tolerance to salt stress especially by application to leaves in maize.