Effect of foliar application with salicylic acid on some morphological and physiological characteristics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under drought stress

Abstract

Drought is an important factor that could restrict plants growth and productivity through several biological and physiological processes. Salicylic acid (SA) has a key role in many physiological processes of plants and stimulate specific responses against various stresses biotic and abiotic, in some of plants. In order to evaluate the effect of foliar application by salicylic acid (SA) under drought stress on some morphological characteristics sesame, a split-plot experiment with a completely random design with three replications was performed. There were three levels of irrigation: control (normal irrigations), water stress at flowering stage and water stress at seed production stage, as main plot and sub plot consisting of four levels of the foliar application of salicylic acid: 0 (control), 1, 1.5 and 2.25 mM. Results indicated that the effects of water stress on traits, such as plant height, height of first capsule from soil surface, number of branches, number of capsules per plant showed significant difference at a level of 1%, while on the number of seeds per capsule, seed weight, leaf area index, biological yield, grain yield sesame, without significant difference indicated. Foliar application with salicylic acid was not so significant (P< 0.05) at different concentrations on measured traits, as well as interactive effects between drought stress and different amounts of salicylic acid, without significant difference observed.