The study of the effects of different concentrations of salicylic acid on improving physiological and biochemical properties of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) var. Akbari seedlings under salinity stress

Salicylic acid is a plant growth regulator that is involved in regulating physiological processes and the plants’ response to adverse biological conditions such as salinity. In the present study, an experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid, salinity, and the interaction of salicylic acid and salinity on morphological and biochemical parameters in pistachio. Salinity concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM and salicylic acid concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM were used in the form of foliar factorial application in a completely randomized design (CRD) under greenhouse condition in 2019. The results of this study showed that salinity reduced shoot and root growth and fresh and dry weights, as well as chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin contents while in plants pre-treated with salicylic acid, the effects of salinity on these parameters were modified. Accordingly, it can be concluded that salicylic acid application protects the plant against salt stress.