Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation

High electrical conductivity (EC) in cultivation systems with the recirculating nutrient solutions can affect plant growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on the selected physiological and biochemical parameters of sweet pepper (<i>Capsicum an...

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Main Authors: Anna Sobczak, Agata Kućko, Ewelina Pióro-Jabrucka, Janina Gajc-Wolska, Katarzyna Kowalczyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/779
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author Anna Sobczak
Agata Kućko
Ewelina Pióro-Jabrucka
Janina Gajc-Wolska
Katarzyna Kowalczyk
author_facet Anna Sobczak
Agata Kućko
Ewelina Pióro-Jabrucka
Janina Gajc-Wolska
Katarzyna Kowalczyk
author_sort Anna Sobczak
collection DOAJ
description High electrical conductivity (EC) in cultivation systems with the recirculating nutrient solutions can affect plant growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on the selected physiological and biochemical parameters of sweet pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) growing aeroponically at standard and high concentrations of nutritive solutions. Four experimental variants were tested: (1) plants cultivated under low EC conditions, (2) plants cultivated under low EC conditions and treated with foliar SA, (3) plants cultivated under high EC conditions, (4) plants cultivated under high EC conditions and treated with SA on leaves and roots. The obtained results revealed that exogenous SA, regardless of EC, reduced the formation of fruits with calcium deficiency symptoms. Furthermore, SA helps plants to cope with high EC nutrient stress through an increase in leaf SPAD index, maximum light-adapted chlorophyll fluorescence and PSII viability. Exogenous SA reduced the number of soluble proteins both under low and high EC; however, increased H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content induced a defence mechanism reflected by the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity. The results of the study provide valuable information on the role of SA in the alleviation of the harmful effect of salinity under aeroponic cultivation.
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spelling doaj.art-6499e3181a9d489a9ae26eecb5435ff22023-11-17T09:06:04ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-03-0113377910.3390/agronomy13030779Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic CultivationAnna Sobczak0Agata Kućko1Ewelina Pióro-Jabrucka2Janina Gajc-Wolska3Katarzyna Kowalczyk4Department of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS—SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, PolandDepartment of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159 Street, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS—SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, PolandDepartment of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS—SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, PolandDepartment of Vegetable and Medicinal Plants, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS—SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, PolandHigh electrical conductivity (EC) in cultivation systems with the recirculating nutrient solutions can affect plant growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) on the selected physiological and biochemical parameters of sweet pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) growing aeroponically at standard and high concentrations of nutritive solutions. Four experimental variants were tested: (1) plants cultivated under low EC conditions, (2) plants cultivated under low EC conditions and treated with foliar SA, (3) plants cultivated under high EC conditions, (4) plants cultivated under high EC conditions and treated with SA on leaves and roots. The obtained results revealed that exogenous SA, regardless of EC, reduced the formation of fruits with calcium deficiency symptoms. Furthermore, SA helps plants to cope with high EC nutrient stress through an increase in leaf SPAD index, maximum light-adapted chlorophyll fluorescence and PSII viability. Exogenous SA reduced the number of soluble proteins both under low and high EC; however, increased H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content induced a defence mechanism reflected by the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme activity. The results of the study provide valuable information on the role of SA in the alleviation of the harmful effect of salinity under aeroponic cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/779<i>osmotic stress</i><i>physiological disorder</i>reactive oxygen species (ROS)photosynthetic activity
spellingShingle Anna Sobczak
Agata Kućko
Ewelina Pióro-Jabrucka
Janina Gajc-Wolska
Katarzyna Kowalczyk
Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
Agronomy
<i>osmotic stress</i>
<i>physiological disorder</i>
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
photosynthetic activity
title Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
title_full Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
title_fullStr Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
title_short Effect of Salicylic Acid on the Growth and Development of Sweet Pepper (<i>Capsicum annum</i> L.) under Standard and High EC Nutrient Solution in Aeroponic Cultivation
title_sort effect of salicylic acid on the growth and development of sweet pepper i capsicum annum i l under standard and high ec nutrient solution in aeroponic cultivation
topic <i>osmotic stress</i>
<i>physiological disorder</i>
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
photosynthetic activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/779
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