Effect of salicylic acid foliar application on Morpho- physiological and biochemical traits of Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) under salinity stress condition

Salinity in soil or water is one of the major stresses especially in arid and semi-arid regions and cause plant weak establishment by disturbing the balance of the elements in the soil and this effect depends on the plant sensitivity. In other hand, salicylic acid as an endogenous growth regulator, is one of effective combinations in plant defense system. Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana L.) belong to Solanaceae family and their geographical dispersal occurs mainly in tropical regions of South America and eastern Asia. Physalis can develop in a huge range of soil and climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salicylic acid foliar application on the Morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of Goldenberry under salt stress condition.

An experiment was conducted at the research greenhouse of Lorestan University (Khorramabad, Iran) in 2018. The experimental design was a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were consisted of four NaCl concentrations (0, 35, 70 and 105 mM) and four salicylic acid concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM). Physalis seedling were grown into the pots containing of soil, sand and manure (2:1:1). Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root, shoot and total dry and fresh weights, relative water content, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, Malone de aldehyde, Electrolyte Leakage, proline and Anthocyanin were measured.

The result of ANOVA showed that the main effects of salinity stress and salicylic acid and their interaction effects were significant for most traits. Salinity stress, decreased Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root, shoot and total dry and fresh weights, RWC, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, anthocyanin and increased MDA content, electrolyte leakage and proline. Salicylic acid foliar application reduced the salinity negative effects, as the highest mean of the most traits was found in plant control (without salinity) with 2 mM concentration of salicylic acid. The maximum (79.09%) and minimum (59.59%) of RWC content were showed in control plants with 2 mM concentration of salicylic acid and plant treated with 105 mM of salinity (without salicylic acid application), respectively. The MDA content maximum was found in 105 mM concentration of NaCl and 0 mM salicylic acid concentration.

The obtained results of this research, were showed that increasing salt stress, caused RWC, plant fresh and dry weight and other plant Morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics decreased and salicylic acid using improved all growth parameters compared with salinity treatment only. Physalis does not tolerate salinity over 35 mM and it seems that sensitive to salt stress. But salicylic acid using in 2 mM somewhat can reduce the salt stress effects. The results of present study suggest that, Physalis plant not recommended for region with salt water.