MITIGATION OF SALT STRESS IN TOMATO USING CALCIUM AND SALICYLIC ACID

Abstract

One of the major constraints to crop production is salt stress, which has an impact growth, yield and quality. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of calcium (Ca +2 ) and salicylic acid (SA) as mitigating agent against salt stress in tomato plant during the period from November 2018 to March 2019. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A (salinity level): S ii 0 = control, S 1 = 4 dSm = 8 dSm -1 and S 3 = 12 dSm -1 and Factor B (mitigating agents): T 0 -1 = control (no Ca or SA application), T 1 = 5 mM Ca +2 , T 2 = 10 mM Ca +2 , T = 125 ppm salicylic acid (SA) and T 4 3 = 250 ppm salicylic acid (SA). Plant height, chlorophyll content, number of flowers, fruits and yield per plant, as well as various quality parameters such as total soluble soild, lycopene, vitamin C, pH and titratable acidity of tomato were evaluated. The use of salt stress mitigating agents resulted in increased growth, yield and quality of tomato compared to control. Among the mitigating agents, salicylic acid (125 ppm), followed by Ca 2+ (5 mM) showed the greatest mitigation in all salinity levels. Therefore, salicylic acid (125 ppm) or Ca 2+ (5 mM) can be used to protect plant growth, yield and quality attributes under salinity stress.