Salicylic Acid-Induced Salinity Redressal in Hydroponically Grown Strawberry

The present study was conducted to evaluate shoot and root mineral composition of salt-stressed Selva strawberry under application timing of salicylic acid (SA). Treatments included plants sprayed with 0.5 or 1mM SA, plants exposed to 40mM sodium chloride (NaCl), and plants sprayed with 0.5 or 1mM SA 1 week before, simultaneously, or after initiation of 40mM salinity. Results indicated that under saline conditions, sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) contents increased along with decrease in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in shoot and root of plants. In plants treated with SA at 1mM concentration, 1 week before salinity application, root Mg and shoot Ca were greater in comparison to salt-stressed plants treated with the same SA concentration 1 week after their exposure to salt stress. Thus, earlier SA application appears to be a better strategy for optimized protection against deleterious influence of salinity.