Improving Growth and Physiological Chracteristics in Salt Stressed lantana (Lantana camara Linn.) by Application of Exogenous Salicylic Acid

Salt stress is one of the main environmental factors restricting horticultural crop production. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) can alleviate salt stress in plants. The objective of this study was to improving growth and physiological chracteristics in salt stressed Lantana camara Linn. by application of exogenous salicylic acid. 

In a factorial experiment and completely randomized design (CRD), three levels of SA (0, 0.5 and 1 mM) and five levels of salinity (0.5, 3, 5, 7 and 9 dS.m-1) with three replications per treatments were applied. 

The results showed that by increasing salinity levels, growth characteristics, chlorophyll a and b and potassium concentration significantly decreased, while the number of necrotic leaves, Sodium and the ratio of sodium to potassium increased. At high salinity levels, application of salicylic acid improved the growth characteristics of the plant such as height, final diameter of the main branch and shoot dry weight and relative water content of the leaves and reduced sodium content in compared to the control. Maximum number of plant branches (4.66), final diameter of main branch (6.11 mm), final diameter of cuttings (9.92 mm), number of leaves (28.66) and fresh and dry weight of shoots (14.80 and 7.46 g) were obtained in plants treated by 0.5 mM salicylic acid and in salinity of 0.5 dS. m-1. 

The use of 0.5 mM salicylic acid at high salinity levels significantly improved the growth and flowering characteristics of the lantana plant. Therefore, the use of 0.5 mM salicylic acid can significantly reduce the damage caused by the negative effects of salinity stress.