Journal of Plant Process and Function

To study the effect the effect of foliar application of zinc and calcium on physiological and agronomical characteristics of safflower in lead stress, the experiment was laid out in a factorial based on randomized complete block with three replications at the greenhouse of Agricultural Research center of Kerman. Treatments included four methods of application of lead (control, soil application of lead, foliar application of lead and combined soil and foliar application of lead), zinc foliar in three concentrations (0, 10, 20 mM) and calcium foliar in two levels (0 and 10 mM). The results showed that under lead stress, relative water contents, seed yield and oil yield were decreased and the activity of peroxidase, soluble sugars content, Percent of seed protein and lead accumulation in leaf and root showed significant increase. The combined soil and foliar application of lead had more adverse effects on leaves and soil absorption of lead only. In lead stress, zinc foliar significantly increased the activity of peroxidase, relative water contents, soluble sugars content, percent of seed protein, seed yield and oil yield and whereas reduced lead accumulation in leaf and root. In lead stress, calcium application caused the increased oil yield and decreasing lead accumulation in leaf. So it seems that application of calcium and zinc was effective against the toxicity of lead by improvement in physiological processes leading to the tolerance of the plant to lead stress.