Journal of Plant Process and Function

Abstract:

 In order to evaluate the effect of drought stress and salicylic acid on mineral content and some  physiological traits of soybean genotypes (Glycine max L.) a greenhouse experiment was conducted as factorial based on completely randomized design with three replications in Mohaghegh Ardabil University in 2014. The first factor consisted of three levels of water deficit (85%, 65% and 45% field capacity), the second factor consisted of three concentration of salicylic acid (0 or distilled water, 0.4 and 0.8 mM) and the third included soybean genotypes (Williams, L17 and D42X19). The results showed that water deficit increased the amount of sodium, sodium to potassium ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and glycine betaine and decreased leaf relative water content and leaf area per plant. Soybean genotypes responded differently to water deficit. Williams and L17 had the highest and lowest concentrations of calcium, potassium, relative water content and leaf area per plant, respectively. Salicylic acid decreases the amount of lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage and increased concentrations of glycine betaine and leaf area per plant. Interaction of salicylic acid and genotype on traits was significant. Application of 0.4 mM salicylic acid exhibited afavorable effects on the accumulation of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and increasing the relative water content and maintaining the integrity of cell membranes and ameliorated the inhibitory effects of water deficit in soybean genotypes especially in Williams. Foliar application with 0.4 mM salicylic acid reduced adverse impact of water deficit stress in Williams cultivar.