Evaluate the effects of salt stress on physico-chemical characteristics in the germination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to methyl salicylate (MeSA)

Salinity causes adverse effects to both physiological, morphological and biochemical characteristics that severely inhibit the growth and productivity of rice. Methyl salicylate (MeSA) is one of the common phytochemicals found in plants exposing to abiotic stresses. The study was conducted to evaluate the role of MeSA in rice under vary salt stress conditions. Two rice varieties including HATRI192 (G1) and HATRI62 (G2) were soaked in different concentrations of MeSA (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM) before placing in saline solutions. The salinity levels included 6, 8, 12, 15 and 17 dS/m of Na+. The shoot height and root length, a-amylase activity, phytic acid content, phenolic, and flavonoid contents were measured during the emerging stage. The results showed that MeSA enhanced the growth of G2 rice seedlings under 6 dS/m and 8 dS/m conditions. The alpha - amylase activity and phytic content significantly increased in stress condition in some MeSA treatments, obviously in G2 variety. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents were found in the treatments 1.0% MeSA +12 dS/m and 0.1% MeSA +15 dS/m, respectively. The finding indicates that MeSA enhanced the physiological and biochemical properties of rice under salt stress condition.