Changes in the hormonal status of wheat seedlings induced by salicylic acid and salinity

The treatment of wheat plants with 0.05 mM salicylic acid (SA) increased the level of cell division within the apical meristem of seedling roots causing an increase in plant growth and an elevated wheat productivity. It was found that SA treatment caused accumulation of both abscisic acid (ABA) and indoleacetic acid (IAA) in the wheat seedlings but did not influence cytokinin content. SA treatment reduced the damaging action of salinity on seedling growth and accelerated reparation of the growth processes. SA-treatment diminished changes in phytohormones levels in wheat seedlings under salinity. It prevented any decrease in IAA and cytokinin contents and thus reduced stress-induced inhibition of plant growth. A high ABA level was also maintained in SA-treated wheat seedlings providing the development of antistress reactions, for example, maintenance of proline accumulation. Thus SA's protective action includes the development of antistress programs and acceleration of growth processes recovery after the removal of stress factors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.