EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID AND POTASSIUM CITRATE ON COTTON PLANT UNDER SALT STRESS

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses in agriculture worldwide. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) and Potassium Citrate (PC) on cotton plant. Plants were irrigated by sea water with concentrations (12000, 8000, 4000 ppm) followed by tab water alternately while the control treatment was irrigated by tap water only. In general salt conditions significantly decreased the growth characters, yield characters, chloroplast pigments, total soluble sugars, total soluble protein, total phenols and total free amino acids while increased proline contents, total antioxidant capacity, catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The results clearly showed that spraying cotton plants with salicylic acid (200 ppm) and potassium citrate (2.5 g/l) under salt conditions caused enhancement of growth and yield characters and increasing of leaf chemical composition. On the other hand there are No significant effects on fiber properties under salt stress.