EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID ON THE ACTIVITY OF ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANTS AND PROLINE IN VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF MAIZE PLANT UNDER NaCl STRESS

Abstract

To study the effect of different levels of salicylic acid  on the activity of  enzymatic  antioxidants  and  proline in the vegetative growth  of maize plant under NaCl  stress . A pot  experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Soil Sciences and Water Resources in the College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad in a silt clay loam soil classified as  Typic Torrifluvent . A factorial experiment based on a Randomized Complete Block Design ( RCBD) with  three  replicates was used . Treatments consisted of  three  salinity levels (0.5, 5.0, 9.5 dS m-1) and five salicylic acid concentrations  ( 0,250,500,1000,1500) µM SA . Results showed significant increase in SOD , POD,CAT activity and proline concentration with the increasing of salinity levels . Foliar applications of salicylic acid significantly  reduced  the activity of antioxidant enzymes ( SOD, POD,CAT) and proline concentration in Maize  plants leaves