Alleviation of Salt-Induced Adverse Effects on Gas Exchange, Photosynthetic Pigments Content and Chloroplast Ultrastructure in Gerbera Jamesonii L. by Exogenous Salicylic Acid Application

Aims: The effects of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) on gas exchange characteristics, photosynthetic pigments and chloroplast ultrastructure were investigated in gerbera at their reproductive stage under salt-stressed conditions. Methodology: A pot experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions at the Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, (30° N/120° E) between February 2008 and March 2009.Plants, pretreated with foliar applications of 0, 0.5, and 1.0 mmoldm-3 SA at the onset of flower initiation were irrigated with 100 mmoldm-3NaCl(aq) for two weeks, starting after three days from the SA pretreatment. Control did not receive either NaCl or SA.Photosynthetic rate, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments content and chloroplast ultrastructure were investigated against treatments. All data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Generalized Linear Model (GLM) using SAS statistical software. Pearson’s correlation test was carried out to study the relationships among the parameters. The means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). For all the tests, P< .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Salt stress adversely affected the gas exchange characteristics, photosynthetic pigment contents and chloroplast ultrastructure. SA application significantly increased the net photosynthesis, stomatal conductivity, intra-cellular CO2 content and transpiration rate but decreased the stomatal limitation, compared to those of untreated salt-stressed plants. Further, the enhanced photosynthetic pigment contents and notably undamaged chloroplast ultrastructure were evident of the ameliorative effects of SA on photosynthetic system under salt stress. Of the two concentrations tested, 0.5 mmoldm-3 SA concentration seemed to have greater effect throughout the experiment showing no significant variation from control in some attributes (chlorophyll contents and chloroplast ultrastructure). Conclusion: Responses of plants pretreated with SA spraying and significant correlation among them plausibly suggest SA-induced enhancement of photosynthetic system as another target for conferring salt tolerance in crop plants.