The effect of salicylic acid foliar application on morphological traits, yield and yield components of red bean under drought tension conditions

In order to investigate the effect of salicylic acid foliar application on morphological¡ physiological traits¡ yield and yield components of red bean under drought tension conditions¡ a field experiment was conducted as split plots based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in Damavand region in 2014. Main plot consisted of irrigation regime at two levels optimal irrigation till the end of the growing season (based on 70 millimeter evaporation from evaporation pan class A) and drought tension at the flowering stage (based on 110 millimeter evaporation from evaporation pan class A) and sub plots included Salicylic acid foliar application at concentrations in four levels zero (pure water)¡ 0.1¡ 0.7 and 1.5 mill molar. The results showed that in drought tension conditions physiological traits¡ such as pigments photosynthetic¡ yield and yield components of beans decreased significantly. As¡ the water deficit tension reduced plant height¡ chlorophyll a¡ chlorophyll b¡ number of pods per plant and one-thousand grain weight and increased proline. Also¡ foliar applications of salicylic acid improved the total chlorophyll¡ proline and grain yield components. The interaction of irrigation regime and foliar applications of salicylic acid on chlorophyll a¡ chlorophyll b¡ total chlorophyll and grain yield was significant. Using 0.7 mill molar salicylic acid in optimum irrigation conditions increased 70 percent chlorophyll a¡ 60 percent chlorophyll b and 56 percent grain yield compared to non-application conditions of salicylic acid and drought tension. Using salicylic acid on bean plant traits in drought tension conditions in most cases had a positive effect. So that the concentration of 0.7 mill molar salicylic acid reduced the adverse effect of drought tension and increased tolerance of red bean crop.