Alleviation of salinity induced growth and photosynthetic decline in wheat due to biochar and jasmonic acid application involves up-regulation of ascorbate-glutathione pathway, glyoxylase system and secondary metabolite accumulation

Combined application of biochar and jasmonic acid for inducing salt stress tolerance in wheat. A 100 mM salt stress was applied fifteen days after germination. biochar (BC, 5%) and jasmonic acid (JA, 5 mu M) was applied in individual and in joint applications. The results revealed that growth traits, contents of delta-Amino levulinic acid, glutamate 1-semialdehyde, total chlorophylls and carotenoids, nutrients, nitrate reductase and leaf gas exchange traits were reduced under salt stress. Salt stress increased oxidative stress biomarkers and enzymes of glyoxylase system considerably. It was found that the single and joint application of biochar or jasmonic acid alleviated the decline with maximal alleviation observed in biochar + jasmonic acid treated plants by preventing the oxidative damage and boosting the activities of antioxidant enzymes and enzymes of glyoxylase system. The accumulation of osmolytes and secondary metabolites was more evident under joint biochar and jasmonic acid treatments than individual under NaCl stress. The contents of reducing agents (ascorbate and glutathione) were orchestrated under joint biochar and jasmonic acid application. Nevertheless, the decline in the activity of nitrate reductase and nutrient contents was maximally alleviated under joint application of BC and JA. Therefore, it can be concluded that combined application of biochar and jasmonic acid can be exploited for improved growth and photosynthesis and salinity stress tolerance in wheat and perhaps in other cereal crops.