Foliar application of salicylic acid improved morpho-anatomical features of potato by irrigating with wastewater

• Published in: BMC plant biology 2024-08, Vol.24 (1), p.754-17, Article 754
• Main Authors: Khilji, Sheza Ayaz, Rafique, Aqsa, Sajid, Zahoor Ahmad, Rauf, Mamoona, Shah, Anis Ali, Shaffique, Shifa, Gatasheh, Mansour K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural Irrigation - methods; Anatomy; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Botanical research; Botany; Cadmium; Catalase; Chromium; Crop yield; Drain water; Environmental aspects; Epidermis; Foliar applications; Heavy metals; Irrigation water; Leaves; Metal stress; Morphology; Peroxidase; Phenols; Photosynthetic pigments; Physiological aspects; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Tubers - anatomy & histology; Plant Tubers - drug effects; Plant Tubers - growth & development; Potatoes; Salicylic acid; Salicylic Acid - pharmacology; Salvage; Sewage irrigation; Shipwrecks; Soil analysis; Soil water; Solanum tuberosum; Solanum tuberosum - drug effects; Solanum tuberosum - growth & development; Stomata; Structure; Superoxide; Superoxide dismutase; Vegetables; Wastewater; Water loss
• ISSN: 1471-2229; 1471-2229
• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05469-8

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of using drain water as a source of irrigation and its effects along with salicylic acid on morphological, anatomical, physico-chemical as well as yield attributes of potato. For this study, potato tubers were grown in pots and irrigated with different concentrations of drain water. Salicylic acid treatments vis. 0, 0.5 and 1.0 mM were applied foliarly. Pre- and post-harvest analysis was carried out to determine different attributes of soil, water and plants after 60 days. The growth of potato plant was increased as the concentration of SA increased through increasing shoot length, fresh/dry weight and tuber number/plant. In this research work, plant respond to overcome metal stresses by up regulating antioxidant defense system such as, peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) by application of highest treatment of SA when irrigated with 6% drain water. Plants accumulated the highest concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb in the leaves when treated with 1 mM of SA, compared to other plant parts. It was observed that photosynthetic pigment enhanced in 6% drain water treated plants when applied with 1mM SA as compared to control. An increase in epidermis and cortical cell thickness, as well as stomatal closure, was observed, helping to maintain water loss under stress conditions. According to these results, it can be suggested that SA is potent signaling molecule can play an essential role in maintaining potato growth when irrigated with drain water containing heavy metals through stimulating metal up take and up regulation of antioxidant enzymes.