Salicylic acid is a phenolic compound recognized as a regulatory signal involved in plant responses to several abiotic stresses, such as drought, osmotic stress, and temperature. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of salicylic acid application under drought stress conditions, on the morphometric traits and biochemical profile of baby leaves of one Brassica crop wild relatives (CWRs), B. macrocarpa (A) and two Sicilian cultivars of Ciuriettu (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis × italica), Ciuriettu iannarisi (B) and Ciuriettu maiolino (C). The seeds were provided by the active genebank of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania (UNICT). The experimental design adopted was a split-plot considering three experimental factors: the first was represented by the salicylic acid application (SA, 100 μmol L-1), the second one was the irrigation regime (IR), and the third one was represented by the genotype (GE). The experimental trial was carried out in a cold greenhouse located in Catania (Sicily, Italy), following the organic growing practises. Three applications of salicylic acid were performed as a soil drench after one week from sowing, and as foliar spray after two and four weeks from sowing. The drought stress was applied after one month from sowing (plantlets with almost 4 true leaves). After five days of drought stress, the plants were characterized for their main morphometric traits, such as the total fresh weight, the fresh weight of 10 plants, SPAD index, the number of green, chlorotic and fallen leaves, leaf area, the stem length, and the main root length. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP) and the glucosinolates profile and content were determined (GLSs). The morphometric parameters were significantly affected by the irrigation regime (IR) and genotype (GE). The salicylic acid did not affect the antioxidant capacity and the glucosinolates profile and content. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying salicylic acid-induced drought tolerance in Brassica crops and to establish the optimal application dose.
Evaluation of the effects of salicylic acid on the morphometric and biochemical profile of Brassica macrocarpa and two Sicilian cultivars of Ciuriettu (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis × italica) under drought stress conditions
Arena, D.;Ben Ammar, H.;Spatafora, M.;Di Dio, S.;Rizzo, G. F.;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Salicylic acid is a phenolic compound recognized as a regulatory signal involved in plant responses to several abiotic stresses, such as drought, osmotic stress, and temperature. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of salicylic acid application under drought stress conditions, on the morphometric traits and biochemical profile of baby leaves of one Brassica crop wild relatives (CWRs), B. macrocarpa (A) and two Sicilian cultivars of Ciuriettu (B. oleracea L. var. botrytis × italica), Ciuriettu iannarisi (B) and Ciuriettu maiolino (C). The seeds were provided by the active genebank of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania (UNICT). The experimental design adopted was a split-plot considering three experimental factors: the first was represented by the salicylic acid application (SA, 100 μmol L-1), the second one was the irrigation regime (IR), and the third one was represented by the genotype (GE). The experimental trial was carried out in a cold greenhouse located in Catania (Sicily, Italy), following the organic growing practises. Three applications of salicylic acid were performed as a soil drench after one week from sowing, and as foliar spray after two and four weeks from sowing. The drought stress was applied after one month from sowing (plantlets with almost 4 true leaves). After five days of drought stress, the plants were characterized for their main morphometric traits, such as the total fresh weight, the fresh weight of 10 plants, SPAD index, the number of green, chlorotic and fallen leaves, leaf area, the stem length, and the main root length. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP) and the glucosinolates profile and content were determined (GLSs). The morphometric parameters were significantly affected by the irrigation regime (IR) and genotype (GE). The salicylic acid did not affect the antioxidant capacity and the glucosinolates profile and content. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying salicylic acid-induced drought tolerance in Brassica crops and to establish the optimal application dose.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
