Features of adaptation to drought in iso and anisohydric plants and effect of salicylic acid

Abstract

It has been studied the effect of salicylic acid derivatives of the cations NH4 +, K+, Mg++ on the physiological processes of the isohydric plant of Zea mays L and anisohydric one of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench in different conditions of soil water content. It was established that the peculiarities of the status of the water, induced by drought, were associated with adaptive morphological characters: reducing surface evaporation by the lower leaf senescence (maize) and adventitious shoots (on sorghum), leaf rolling (maize), cutinization and exudation of silicon oxide (on sorghum). It was shown that salicylates participated in the induction mechanisms of drought tolerance of plants by modulating the absorption, hydraulic conductivity, stomatal resistance and transpiration intensity. Such adaptive changes are geared towards maximum efficiency of water use in the production process. Treatment of seeds and foliage of plants with relevant salicylates increased the organism's tolerance to subsequent bad weather, which in turn affected growth, productivity and plants crop.