title: Salicylic acid confers salt tolerance in potato plants by improving water relations, gaseous exchange, antioxidant activities and osmoregulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Potato is an important vegetable; however, salt stress drastically affects its growth and yield. A pot experiment was therefore conducted to assess salicylic acid efficacy in improving performance of potato cultivars, grown under salt stress (50 mmol L-1). Salicylic acid at 0.5 mmol L-1was sprayed on to potato plants after 1 week of salinity application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salt stress effects were ameliorated by salicylic acid effectively in both the studied cultivars. N-Y LARA proved more responsive to salicylic acid application than 720-110 NARC, which confirmed genetic variation between cultivars. Salicylic acid scavenged reactive oxygen species by improving antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidases) and regulating osmotic adjustment (proline, phenolic contents), which led to enhanced water relation and gaseous exchange attributes, and thereby increased potassium availability and reduced sodium content in potato leaves. Moreover, potato tuber yield showed a positive correlation with potassium content, photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salt tolerance efficacy of salicylic acid is authenticated in improving potato crop performance under salt stress. Salicylic acid effect was more pronounced in N-Y LARA, reflecting greater tolerance than 720-110 NARC, which was confirmed as a susceptible cultivar. Hence salicylic acid at 0.5 mmol L-1and cultivation of N-Y LARA may be recommended in saline soil. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan.
authors: Hafiz Nazar
authors: HN
authors: Faried
authors: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors: Chaudhary Muhammad
authors: CM
authors: Ayyub
authors: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Amjad
authors: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors: Rashid
authors: R
authors: Ahmed
authors: Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of ARID Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors: Fahad Masoud
authors: FM
authors: Wattoo
authors: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan.
authors: Madiha
authors: M
authors: Butt
authors: Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors: Mohsin
authors: M
authors: Bashir
authors: Department of Horticulture, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Rashid
authors: MR
authors: Shaheen
authors: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Ahmed
authors: MA
authors: Waqas
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D064587:Osmoregulation; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005740:Gases; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010544:Peroxidases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D011188:Potassium
keywords: antioxidant; biochemical; physiological; potato; salicylic acid; salt stress