The effects of the salicylic acid on the antioxidant activity of Cicer arientinum L. under cadmium chloride stress

The present study investigated the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 0.5 and 1 mM) and cadmium chloride (0, 50, 100 and 150 µM), together and separately, on certain physiological parameters of Cicer arientinum L. The activity of peroxides and catalase, proteins, and anthocyanin contents increased with an increase in cadmium chloride. By increasing the salicylic acid, the activity of peroxides and catalase decreased, while the total amount of protein and the anthocyanin contents increased. The interaction of salicylic acid and cadmium chloride decreased the catalase activity in the lower concentrations but the total amount of protein increased. In addition, the activity of peroxides and the anthocyanin content increased in most of the interaction treatments. The results indicated that chickpea is not a tolerant plant against the cadmium stress.