SALICYLIC ACID ALLEVIATES THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SODIUM FLUORIDE STRESS BY IMPROVING GROWTH AND BIOCHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES IN CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.

Although fluoride, the ion of fluorine, occurs in only a small amount in earth crust it is an important environmental pollutant. Soil contaminated by fluoride is one of the main problems in worldwide. Capsicum annuum L. (chili) is an edible crop used for human nutrition. It has antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant, and immunosuppressive properties. The present study was done to investigate the effects of salicylic acid on plant growth, biomass production, and the photosynthetic attributes of Capsicum under sodium fluoride stress. Two varieties of Capsicum annuum L., Magma and Zenia, were studied by giving as a soil drench, twice a week to create stress, different concentrations of sodium fluoride, i.e., 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 ppm. The gradual accumulation of sodium fluoride created toxic effects on growth of plants. Significant reduction was observed in plant growth and biochemical parameters with increased concentrations of sodium fluoride in both varieties of C. annuum. The foliar applications of salicylic acid (100 ppm and 200 ppm) were also given to lessen the effects of the fluoride stress. It was observed that plant height and biomass production of C. annuum plant decreased under sodium fluoride stress while this stress was less in plants which were treated with NaF and SA. It is concluded that the foliar application of salicylic acid promotes salt tolerance in the two varieties of C. annuum.