Effect salicylic acid on alleviation of salt stress on growth traits of Salvia limbata L.

Salvia species is a perennial plant and belong to Labiates family in addition to the medicinal value, it used for the food, cosmetic products and ornamental flowers. Due to the increasing saline lands and reduced suitable lands for agriculture, identification of medicinal plants resistant to salinity and many compounds that can reduce salinity effects is important. Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the endogenous plant growth regulators, with phenolic quality that plays regulator roles in physiological process and protect the plant from environmental stresses. In order to evaluate the effect of different levels of SA on alleviation salinity on growth traits such as proline, soluble sugars, leaf area and root/shoot ratio of Salvia limbata, an experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement in Islamic Azad university of Damghan. Treatments were four concentrations of SA (0, 100, 200, 300 ppm) and four levels of Nacl (0, 50, 100, 150 mM) with four replications. The results showed that the interaction of salinity and salicylic acid on proline and soluble sugars contents in leaf were enhanced with positive and significant correlation at %1 probability level. The highest concentration of proline and soluble sugars was in the 150 mM salinity level with 300 ppm SA. Also, the maximum level of leaf area was showed in the 50 mM salinity level with 200 ppm SA. Best response of treatment was obtained with 50 mM salinity with 200 ppm SA that can be effective on development of plant resistance and adjustment intensity to salt stress. Therefore, considering that most of the areas of Iran suffering from salinity, it suggested that more attention should be the use of plant hormone Salicylic acid.