Induction of drought tolerance by salicylic acid in seedlings of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Salicylic acid (SA) is a common, plant-produced signal molecule that is responsible for inducing tolerance to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. An experiment was therefore conducted to test whether the application of SA at various concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 mM) by seed soaking, or as a foliar spray would protect cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings subjected to drought stress. Thirty-six-day-old seedlings (n = 12 seedlings per treatment) were exposed to drought stress for 14 d. Pretreatment with SA improved the majority of the physiological (e.g., relative chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence ratio) and morphological parameters (e.g., shoot and root fresh and dry weights) measured in cucumber seedlings subjected to drought stress. SA ameliorated the injuries caused by drought stress by increasing shoot tissue proline contents and preventing an increase in leaf electrolyte leakage. SA was more effective at increasing the drought tolerance of cucumber seedlings when applied using the seed-soaking method, rather than as a foliar spray. The best drought protection appeared to be obtained when seeds were soaked in 0.50 mM SA.