Effect of Sodium Silicate and Salicylic Acid on Sodium and Potassium Ratio in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grown Under Salt Stress

Purpose Salinity pose severe threat to cultivation as it drastically affects the plant sustainability and yield. The intended aim of current consensus is to assess effects of sodium silicate and salicylic acid on wheat genotypes (slat tolerant and salt sensitive) grown under salt stress. Methods This experiment was designed to check the effect of silicon on wheat varieties, so four different wheat genotypes named as (Umeed, Rasco, Zarghoon and Shahkaar) were grown in hydroponics under saline and normal environment. Sodium silicate and salicylic acid were applied on all varieties to determine the slat tolerance ability. Plants were harvested at maturity and different physical and chemical aspects were recorded. Results To assess the salt stress on growth and yield of wheat genotypes. Wheat grown in saline conditions with sodium silicate supplementation showed improvement in all growth parameters as compared to the plants grown under salt stress without silicon supplementation. Higher contents of potassium were observed in plants grown under salt stress with silicon supplementation however, potassium concentration was found less in salicylic acid treatment and control under salt stress. Sodium concentration was found higher under salt stress but sodium silicate application reduced Na+ uptake under salt stress. Significance increase in K+ : Na+ ratio in roots enhance the translocation which in turn elevates salt tolerance ability. Among wheat varieties potassium uptake was quite higher in Umeed and Rasco as compared to Zarghoon and Shahkar. Conclusions Based on current results it can be deduced that application of sodium silicate on different wheat varieties mitigated Na+ toxicity by elevating K+: Na+ ratio and net translocation rate in salt stressed plants.