EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MAIZE GROWN IN SALINE AREA

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the effect of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) on physiology of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid CV. 3025 grown in saline field (pH 8.4 and EC 4.2 ds/m) as well as on the nutrient status of saline soil. The salicylic acid (10(-5)M) was applied as foliar spray, 40 days after sowing (DAS) at vegetative stage of maize plants. The salinity significantly increased sugar contents, protein, proline and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) activities but the chlorophyll, carotenoid contents, osmotic potential and membrane stability index (MSI) were lower than the control. Foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) to salt stressed plants further augmented the sugar, protein, proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) activities, endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), indole acetic acid (IAA) content, and root length, fresh and dry weights of roots whereas. the chlorophyll a/b and ABA/IAA ratio were decreased. The exogenous application of SA significantly decreased the Na+, Ni+3, Pb+4, Zn+2, and Na+/K+ content of soil and roots while increased the Co+3, Mn+2, Cu+3, Fe+2, K+ and Mg+2 content under salinity stress. If can be inferred that exogenous application of SA (10(-5)M) was effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of salinity on nutrient status of soil. SA (10(-5)M) can be implicated to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on maize plants.