Mitigating drought stress in sesame by foliar application of salicylic acid, beeswax waste and licorice extract

This study evaluated the effects of salicylic acid (SA), beeswax waste extract (BWE) and licorice extract (LE) as novel biostimulants, on drought-induced oxidative stress on sesame. The treatments consisted of three drought stress conditions (full irrigation, 90 % field capacity (FC); moderate stress, 60 % FC; and severe stress, 30 % FC) together with four exogenous foliar applications (control, water; LE, 5000 ppm; BWE, 2000 ppm; and SA, 1.5 mM). Plants subjected to drought stress displayed significant reduction in plant height, leaf area index, biological and seed yield, chlorophyll a and b content, quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), net photosynthetic rate (P-n), stomatal conductance (g(s)), transpiration (T-r) and water use efficiency (WUE). Drought stress stimulated Malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, protein and carotenoid contents, and catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, while the exogenous foliar application of substances mitigated the oxidative damages. The alleviated effect of BWE on drought stress was more effective than those of LE and SA. In conclusion, it could be recommended that the application of the natural substances may lead to overcoming the negative effects of drought stress by regulating osmoprotectants content and antioxidant defense system, increasing mineral nutrients in plant organs and adjusting photosynthesis systems; consequently, contributing to improving the sesame productivity.