Response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to exogenous salicylic acid and ascorbic acid under vegetative and reproductive drought stress conditions

Abstract

Drought stress is considered as a critical limiting factor in plant growth and productivity. Substances such as salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) may enhance drought tolerance in plants. Therefore this experiment was aimed to study the growth and physiological response of two chickpea cultivars (ILC482 & Kurdistan) to SA and AA foliar application in four different conditions of drought stress including: control or well watered, vegetative drought stress, reproductive drought stress and complete drought stress (vegetative and reproductive drought stress). Results showed that plant biomass was significantly increased through SA and AA application. SA spraying in complete drought stress condition, significantly increased the proline content of leaves. Foliar application of SA and AA both in well watered and water deficit treatments reduced the electrolyte leakage in leaves. Generally it was concluded that SA and AA had the potential of diminishing injurious effects of drought stress and promoting crop productivity.

Keywords

• Ascorbic acid
• Drought stress
• Proline
• Salicylic acid