Salicylic Acid Effect on Ocimum basilicum L. during Growth in Salt Stress and Its Relationship between Phytomass and Gas Exchange

Aim: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid on gaseous changes, growth and basil biomass (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Cinnamon) submitted to saline stress.

Study Design: The experiment had conducted in a randomized incomplete block design (5x5- Compound Central Box) with five replicates.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment had carried out at the Agrarian Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba, Areia, PB, between May and August 2017.

Methodology: Basil plants were used cv. Cinnamon, where they were planted in pots of 5 dm3. Five electrical conductivities of the irrigation water (0.5, 1.3, 3.25, 5.2, 6.0 dS m-1) and five doses of salicylic acid (0.0, 0.29, 1.0, 0.71, 2.0 and 2.0 mM). The following variables had evaluated: gas exchange, fluorescence and chlorophyll index, growth and fresh basil phytomass.

Results: The increase of electrical conductivity of irrigation water negatively affected the growth (height of plants, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area), phytomass and gas exchange of basil. The application of salicylic acid had no significant effect, however, the application of this acid up to 1.0 mM positively affected most of the variables analyzed.

Conclusion: Our results show that 1 mM of salicylic acid applied during the basil plants growth in saline stress conditions, affected positively to biomass and gas exchange.