Ahmed soufi ⃰⁽¹⁾ Majd Darwish*⁽¹⁾ and Nizar Moalla⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Majd Darwish, E-mail: majds26@yahoo.com).

Abstract:

  The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University- Lattakia-Syria during the agricultural season 2019, by the cultivation of basil seedlings in plastic pots that were distributed according to the randomized complete design (CRD) with three replicates per treatment. The aim research was to study the effect of salicylic acid (SA) (1, 5 and 10 mM) on plant growth, development and productivity of basilica (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants, that were treated by SA spray before NaCl treatment (6, 12 and 18 dS/cm) with two weeks. So, the morphological (plant height (cm), number of branches (branch/plant) and stem diameter (cm), the physiological (leaf area cm²/plant and net assimilation rate (mg/cm²/day), the biochemical (chlorophyll and carotenoids contents (µg/g FW), proline content (µg/g FW) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) (nmol/g FW)) and the productivity characteristics (fresh and dry leaves yield (g/plant) have been studied. The treatment with salt, especially at the high concentration, conducted to negative effects in the growth and the productivity of basil. The treatment with salicylic acid, especially at 1 and 5 mM, increased the growth and productivity of basil, as indicated in all the studied traits and characteristics. The salicylic acid pretreatment, particularly at 1 and 5 mM, also improved the growth and productivity of basil plant, and increased its tolerance to salt stress. Taken together, the salicylic acid spray, at 1-5 mM concentrations on basil seedlings, can be suggested to improve the plant growth, the fresh and dry leaves and the basil tolerance to salt stress.

  Keywords: Ocimum basilicum L., Salicylic acid, Salt stress.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF