Effect of Foliar Applied Acetylsalicilic Acid on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Field Conditions

Abstract

The exogenous application of salicylic acid prevents plant damage caused by various abiotic stresses (drought, high and low temperatures, salinity) and helps plants to build resistance to biotic stresses (pathogens). Acetylsalicylic acid, which is a synthetic salicylic acid derivative, has the same properties. In the face of climate change and a greater likelihood of extreme weather events, the use of these acids can significantly help to ensure proper growth and development of plants, especially sensitive species, even under stress conditions. The problem, however, is choosing the right dose (concentration) and time of application, and individual species sensitivity. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the growth and yield parameters of spring wheat. A field trial was carried out in 2013 and 2014 at the Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute in Poznan (Poland). The experiment was established on spring wheat cv. ‘Tybalt’, in four replications. Acetylsalicylic acid was tested in two concentrations: 0.3 and 0.5 mM. Each concentration was applied to the crop twice at growth stage BBCH 29 (end of tillering) and 7 days afterwards, and at growth stage BBCH 37 (flag leaf just visible) and 7 days afterwards. The study evaluated 12 traits of the crop, including plant height, chlorophyll content in the flag leaf, length of the ear, and quality and quantity parameters of the yield. The study showed that both the selection of the appropriate concentration and the time of acetylsalicylic acid application have a significant impact on the growth and development of the wheat. The acetylsalicylic acid increased the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, the number of grains in the ear, the mass of a thousand grains, and grain yield. The present study did not confirm significant differences between the acetylsalicylic acid concentrations. The concentration of 0.5 mM proved more effective only for such traits as plant height and protein content in the grain. The study showed that it is not the concentration but the time of acetylsalicylic acid application that is more important for the growth of the wheat. Although there were no significant differences between the effects of earlier and later application time on plant height or chlorophyll content, most of the structural and qualitative parameters of the yield (number of grains in the ear, grain density, grain hardness, protein, gluten and starch content) were better after later application of acetylsalicylic acid (GS BBCH 37).

Salicylic Acid Improves Growth and Physiological Attributes and Salt Tolerance Differentially in Two Bread Wheat Cultivars

“…Under salinity stress, salicylic acid increased the neutral detergent fiber and protein content more in SST806 than in PAN3497. These results are in accordance with previous findings [ 61 ], where abiotic stress such as drought caused considerable changes in the grain composition, including a substantial decrease in starch accumulation and an increase in grain protein. It was confirmed [ 62 ] that salicylic acid increased the growth and values of important quality characteristics such as the protein content.…”

Salicylic Acid Enhances Adventitious Root and Aerenchyma Formation in Wheat under Waterlogged Conditions

“…Consistently, treatment of mung bean hypocotyls with H 2 O 2 scavenger/H 2 O 2 biosynthesis inhibitor leads to inhibition of the SA-induced adventitious root formation [9,10]. In wheat, exogenous application of SA and its synthetic derivative, acetyl SA, has also been shown to have positive effects on several morphological traits in the shoot system including plant height, number of tillers, flag leaf area, number of spikes per plant and number of grains per spike [12,13].…”

Promotion of Growth and Physiological Characteristics in Water-Stressed Triticum aestivum in Relation to Foliar-Application of Salicylic Acid

“…In conclusion, foliar-spray improved the resistance of plants against drought stress by upregulating the antioxidant defense system of all the antioxidant enzymes and reducing the oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) [5,66,100]. Further research will be focused on the influence of a synthetic form of salicylic acid on Triticum aestivum under field conditions [101].…”