Effect of salicylic acid on germination and physiological indices in ornamental palm under salt stress

Soil salinity is one of the most important problems in crop production. Improvement in salt tolerance in major food crops is an important way for the economic utilization of saline area.The effects of pretreatment of salicylic acid on phoenix canariensis seed germination, lipids peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) peroxidase (POX) activity in salt stress condition were investigated. Treatments of Phoenix canariensis seedlings with different concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) for seedling growth were: (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM). Salt stress was inducted by NaCl solution (0, 100, 200 and 200 mM). After three mounths, number of germinated seed, radical length, seedling length and dry weight were recorded. Antioxidant enzymes activity and lipid peroxidation were analysed too. The results showed that high concentration of NaCl (400mM) decreased germination to 8.57 % than control. Influence of SA was significant and increased percent of germination in stressed and control treatments. Enzymes assay showed enzyme activity increased in salt stress conditions and SA reduced activity of antioxidant enzyme. In general, SA treatment reduced damage of salinity on seedling growth and accelerated the restoration of growth processes.