Salicylic acid improves salinity-alkalinity tolerance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Salinization and alkalization of soils are agricultural problems in arid and semiarid regions of the world such as Iran. In this experiment the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on resistance of pepper plants under salt stress (SS) and alkali stress (AS) were evaluated. Treatments include 0 and 150 mM of SS, 0, 50 and 100 mM of AS and 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mM SA. Results showed that SS and AS imposed negative effects on pepper plant growth and productivity. Reduction in growth and yield in SS was higher than AS and maximum reduction occurred in high mixed stresses. SA application improved growth parameters and increased yield, relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll of plants subjected to SS and AS and provided significant protection against stress compared to non-SA-treated plants.  For most traits, 0.75 mM of SA was more effective than 1.5 mM concentration. SA ameliorated the injury caused by SS and AS by increasing chlorophyll and RWC and inhibiting proline accumulation and leaf electrolyte leakage (EL). In general, results indicate that salinity and alkalinity have negative effects on growth and yield of pepper plants and these negative effects can be ameliorated by application of SA.