Salicylic acid or thiamin increases tolerance to boron toxicity stress in wheat

Abstract

Boron (B) toxicity is an important environmental constraint that limits crop productivity. Salicylic acid (SA) and thiamin participate in the processes underlying plant adaptations to certain types of abiotic and biotic stress. This study aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of SA or thiamin and B on physiological attributes of wheat under normal and B-toxicity conditions. Seeds were soaked in SA or thiamin and excess B was applied for 10-day after planting the seedlings. Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, B and some elements concentrations, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline, other free amino acids, soluble proteins and carbohydrates were measured. Application of SA or thiamin showed an increase in tolerance towards high B as indicated by H₂O₂, amino acids, soluble proteins and carbohydrates contents. The results support the conclusion that SA and thiamin alleviate B toxicity not at the level of B content but by affecting other elements and osmo-protective metabolite.

Keywords:

• boron
• hydrogen peroxide
• osmo-protective metabolite
• pigments
• wheat

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.