Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Enzyme Activities of Leguminous Plant under Cadmium Stress

The present study was designed with an objective to elucidate the effect of the exogenous application of 10-5 M of salicylic acid (SA) to the foliage of the chickpea plants exposed to 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg cadmium (Cd) per kg of soil. The foliage of the plants grown in soil amended with varying doses of Cd was sprayed with 10-5 M of SA at 30 days after sowing (DAS). The plant samples were collected at 60 and 90 DAS to assess various parameters. The damage caused due to the Cd exposure was partially overcome by the exogenous application of SA. The SA treatment resulted in a significant increase of growth, photosynthesis, yield and the activity of antioxidative enzymes viz. catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the plants exposed to 0, 25 or 50 mg Cd per kg of soil. However, the treatment did not prove to be fruitful in alleviating completely the stress generated by 100 mg Cd per kg of soil.