COMBINED EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONES AND GYPSUM INDUCES SALINITY TOLERANCE IN WHEAT UNDER SALINE-SODIC SOIL
K. Ahmed*, 1, G. Qadir1, M. Q. Nawaz1, M. A. Riaz2, M. F. Nawaz1 and M. M. A. Ullah3
1Soil Salinity Research Institute Pindi Bathian. Punjab Pakistan; 2Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad Pakistan; 3Department of Biosciences, University of Wah, Wah Cant Pakistan
Corresponding author’s email: khalilahmeduaf@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
In recent decades effective regulatory role of phytohormones in plants in response to salinity has received considerable attention. However, their role acting in combination with gypsum still remain elusive. That is why, this two-year study was conducted to assess the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid and L-tryptophan with and without gypsum on wheat crop in a moderately salt affected soil with ECe: 4.71 dS m-1, pHs: 9.18 and SAR: 31.82. Treatments detail is as under: - (A). Amendments 1: gypsum @ 50% GR, 2: without gypsum, (B). Plant hormones T1: control, T2: SA @10-5 M, T3: L-TRP @10-5 M, T4: SA + L-TRP (each @10-5 M in 1:1). Results indicated that growth and yield parameters were higher in T4 (SA+L-TRP @ 10-5 M in 1:1 ratio) with gypsum application @ 50% of GR. Individual application of either salicylic acid (SA) or L-tryptophan (L-TRP) improved the yield in comparison to control but the effect was more remarkable with their combined application. Post-harvest soil analysis clearly demonstrated that gypsum application improved the physical and chemical properties when compared to without application of gypsum. Results highlighted that salinity tolerance of wheat crop was increased in most of the studied parameters when these plant hormones were applied in combination, indicating a positive interaction between salicylic acid and L-tryptophan in salinized conditions.
Key words: Abiotic stress. growth enhancer, cereal, soil quality.
Abbreviations used: GR (gypsum requirement); pHs (pH of soil saturated past); SA (salicylic acid); L-TRP (L-tryptophan); BD (bulk density); ECe (electrical conductivity of soil extract); HC (hydraulic conductivity); SAR (sodium adsorption ratio). |