The effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria, foliar sprays of salicylic acid and silicon on growth parameters of garlic under salt stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor,, Soil and Water Research Department,, East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Department of Plant Eco-physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Associate Professor., Soil and Water Research Department, East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Tabriz, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Soil and Water Research Institute, Agriculture Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

The factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design was conducted with three replications at the research greenhouse of Tabriz University in 2017. The experimental factors include three levels of salinity stress (non-saline, salinity 3 and 6 dS/m) from the source of sodium chloride, foliar spraying in three levels without hormonal and nutritional foliar spraying, foliar spraying of 2 mM silicon and foliar spraying of 1mM salicylic acid, and the third factor, bacterial inoculation in four levels included: no inoculation, inoculation with Azosprilium, inoculation with Azotobacter and combined inoculation of two bacteria. The results of this research showed that the salt stress reduced the growth and yield of garlic. Spraying of salicylic acid and silicon and inoculation with bacteria improved potassium absorption, plant height, and leaf surface area, number of leaves per plant, yield components, biomass, and yield of garlic. The treatments significantly reduced the sodium concentration in both roots and leaves. The positive effects of the proposed treatments not only improved plant growth and performance under salinity stress conditions but also under non-saline conditions. Among the studied treatments, salicylic acid and silicon foliar applications along with the combined use of Azospirillium and Azotobacter showed more favorable effects on the growth and productivity of garlic than the other treatments. Finally, it was suggested to use growth-promoting bacteria in combination with salicylic acid and silicon solution spraying to mitigate the effects of salinity stress in garlic plants.

Keywords

Main Subjects


The effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria, foliar sprays of salicylic acid and silicon on growth parameters of garlic under salt stress

Extended Abstract

 

Introduction

Salinity stress is a global problem that negatively affects plant growth and productivity. It is the second most common form of environmental stress after drought stress, and it is prevalent in Iran and worldwide. Salinity stress causes various physiological changes in plants, leading to hindered growth. Several solutions have been suggested to alleviate the impact of salt stress, and one of the most effective methods is the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria. Additionally, silicon, a vital nutrient, and salicylic acid, a stress resistance hormone, have distinct roles in enhancing plant resistance to salt stress. Garlic is a highly valuable and widely utilized product in the food and pharmaceutical industries globally, with significant economic value. However, its production can decrease under salt stress.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential impact of growth-promoting bacteria, salicylic acid, and silicon on enhancing the growth of garlic plants when exposed to high levels of salt.

Materials and Methods

This study was performed using a factorial design with randomized complete blocks in three replications. The main factors of the experiment were the foliar spraying of salicylic acid and silicon, as well as the use of growth-stimulating bacteria (Azospirillum and Azotobacter) under salt stress. The experiment took place in a greenhouse, using perlite as the culture medium. The bacteria were used both individually and in combination.

Results

Salinity stress had negative effects on various aspects of plant growth, including plant height, leaf growth, number of leaves, potassium levels in roots and leaves, plant weight, and garlic yield. Conversely, it led to an increase in sodium concentration in both the root and leaf tissues. The application of growth-stimulating bacteria (Azospirillum and Azotobacter), along with salicylic acid and silicon foliar spray, improved plant growth, increased potassium levels in leaves and roots, and enhanced garlic yield in both saline and non-saline conditions. These treatments also reduced the absorption and accumulation of sodium in plant tissues. Among the tested treatments, the combination of foliar spraying with salicylic acid, and the use of Azospirillum and Azotobacter, had the best results in enhancing the growth and productivity of garlic under salt stress. Nevertheless, other treatments, whether applied individually or in combination, also demonstrated positive effects on plant growth in both saline and non-saline conditions.

Conclusion

The results of this research clearly showed that salt stress can cause a decrease in garlic yield by reducing the overall growth of the plant. Using biological fertilizers to manage plant growth is an effective strategy for increasing plant production under salt stress. The utilization of growth-promoting bacteria, particularly when used in combination, can enhance plant growth in conditions of salt stress. Based on this, it is recommended to use growth-promoting bacteria in combination with salicylic acid to enhance plant growth under salt stress.

Abdel Latef, A.A.H., Abu Alhmad, M.F., Kordrostami, M., Abo–Baker, A.B.A.E., & Zakir, A. (2020). Inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum or Azotobacter chroococcum reinforces maize growth by improving physiological activities under saline conditions. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 39, 1293-1306.
Abdelaal, K.A., Mazrou, Y.S., & Hafez, Y.M. (2020). Silicon foliar application mitigates salt stress in sweet pepper plants by enhancing water status, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity and fruit yield. Plants, 9, 733.
Addis, W., & Abebaw, A. (2015). Analysis of selected physicochemical parameters of soils used for cultivation of garlic (Allium sativum L.). Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal, 3(4), pp.29-35.
Adhikari, N.D., Simko, I., & Mou, B. (2019). Phenomic and physiological analysis of salinity effects on lettuce. Sensors, 19, 4814.
ALKahtani, M.D., Attia, K.A., Hafez, Y.M., Khan, N., Eid, A.M., Ali, M.A., & Abdelaal, K.A. (2020). Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and antioxidant defense system can display salt tolerance of salt acclimated sweet pepper plants treated with chitosan and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Agronomy, 10(8), 1180.
Al-Yasi, H., Attia, H., Alamer, K., Hassan, F., Ali, E., Elshazly, S., Siddique, K.H., & Hessini, K. (2020). Impact of drought on growth, photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, and cell wall elasticity in Damask rose. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 150, 133-139.
Arif, Y., Singh, P., Siddiqui, H., Bajguz, A., & Hayat, S. (2020). Salinity induced physiological and biochemical changes in plants: An omic approach towards salt stress tolerance. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 156, 64-77.
Bagautdinova, Z.Z., Omelyanchuk, N., Tyapkin, A.V., Kovrizhnykh, V.V., Lavrekha, V.V., & Zemlyanskaya, E.V. (2022). Salicylic acid in root growth and development. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(4), 2228.
Datir, S., Singh, N., & Joshi, I. (2020). Effect of NaCl-induced salinity stress on growth, osmolytes and enzyme activities in wheat genotypes. Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, 104, 351-357.
dos Santos, T.B., Ribas, A.F., de Souza, S.G.H., Budzinski, I.G.F., & Domingues, D.S. (2022). Physiological responses to drought, salinity, and heat stress in plants: a review. Stresses, 2(1), 113-135.
Egamberdieva, D., Wirth, S., Bellingrath-Kimura, S.D., Mishra, J., & Arora, N.K. (2019). Salt-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for enhancing crop productivity of saline soils. Frontiers in microbiology, 10, 2791.
El-Akhdar, I., El-Sheekh, M., Allam, N.G., Kamal, F., Abou-Shanab, R., & Staehelin, C. (2019) Evaluation of salt-tolerant Azospirillum lipoferum and its role in improvement of Wheat growth parameters. Environment, Biodiversity and Soil Security, 3, 163-178.
Fageria, N.K. (2016). The use of nutrients in crop plants. CRC press.
Farhangi-Abriz, S., & Ghassemi-Golezani, K. (2018). How can salicylic acid and jasmonic acid mitigate salt toxicity in soybean plants?. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 147, 1010-1016.
Farhangi-Abriz, S., & Torabian, S. (2018). Nano-silicon alters antioxidant activities of soybean seedlings under salt toxicity. Protoplasma, 255, 953-962.
Farhangi-Abriz, S., Alaee, T., & Tavasolee, A. (2019). Salicylic acid but not jasmonic acid improved canola root response to salinity stress. Rhizosphere, 9, 69-71.
Farhangi-Abriz, S., Tavasolee, A., Ghassemi-Golezani, K., Torabian, S., Monirifar, H., & Rahmani, H.A. (2020). Growth-promoting bacteria and natural regulators mitigate salt toxicity and improve rapeseed plant performance. Protoplasma, 257, 1035-1047.
Ghaly, F.A., Abd-Elhamied, A.S., & Shalaby, N.S. (2020). Effect of bio-fertilizer, organic and mineral fertilizaters on soybean yield and nutrients uptake under sandy soil conditions. Journal of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, 11, 653-660.
Ghassemi-Golezani, K., & Farhangi-Abriz, S. (2018). Foliar sprays of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid stimulate H+-ATPase activity of tonoplast, nutrient uptake and salt tolerance of soybean. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 166, 18-25.
Ha-Tran, D.M., Nguyen, T.T.M., Hung, S.H., Huang, E., & Huang, C.C. (2021). Roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in stimulating salinity stress defense in plants: A review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22, 3154.
Jones Jr, J.B. )2001(. Laboratory guide for conducting soil tests and plant analysis. CRC.
Kaiwen, G., Zisong, X., Yuze, H., Qi, S., Yue, W., Yanhui, C., Jiechen, W., Wei, L., & Huihui, Z. (2020). Effects of salt concentration, pH, and their interaction on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and photochemistry of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaves. Plant signaling & behavior, 15(12), p.1832373.
Kerbab, S., Silini, A., Chenari Bouket, A., Cherif-Silini, H., Eshelli, M., El Houda Rabhi, N., & Belbahri, L. (2021). Mitigation of NaCl stress in wheat by rhizosphere engineering using salt habitat adapted PGPR halotolerant bacteria. Applied Sciences, 11(3), p.1034.
Khan, A., Khan, A.L., Muneer, S., Kim, Y.H., Al-Rawahi, A., & Al-Harrasi, A. (2019). Silicon and salinity: Crosstalk in crop-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms. Frontiers in plant science, 10, 1429.
Khodadadi, R., Ghorbani Nasrabadi, R., Olamaee, M., & Movahedi Naini, S.A. (2020). Effect of Azotobacter and Azospirillum on Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) under Salinity Stress. Water and Soil, 34, 649-660.
Kulak, M., Jorrín-Novo, J.V., Romero-Rodriguez, M.C., Yildirim, E.D., Gul, F., & Karaman, S. (2021). Seed priming with salicylic acid on plant growth and essential oil composition in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants grown under water stress conditions. Industrial Crops and Products, 161, 113235.
Kumari, S., Chhillar, H., Chopra, P., Khanna, R.R., & Khan, M.I.R. (2021). Potassium: A track to develop salinity tolerant plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 167, 1011-1023.
Miao, Y., Luo, X., Gao, X., Wang, W., Li, B., & Hou, L. (2020). Exogenous salicylic acid alleviates salt stress by improving leaf photosynthesis and root system architecture in cucumber seedlings. Scientia Horticulturae, 272, 109577.
Mokabel, S., Olama, Z., Ali, S., & El-Dakak, R. (2022). The role of plant growth promoting rhizosphere microbiome as alternative biofertilizer in boosting Solanum melongena L. Adaptation to salinity stress. Plants, 11, 659.
Neshat, M., Abbasi, A., Hosseinzadeh, A., Sarikhani, M.R., Dadashi Chavan, D., & Rasoulnia, A. (2022). Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) induce antioxidant tolerance against salinity stress through biochemical and physiological mechanisms. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 28(2), 347-361.
Pena Calzada, K., Calero Hurtado, A., Olivera Viciedo, D., Habermann, E., de Mello Prado, R., de Oliveira, R., Ajila, G., Tenesaca, L.F.L., Rodríguez, J.C., & Gratão, P.L. (2023). Regulatory role of silicon on growth, potassium uptake, ionic homeostasis, proline accumulation, and antioxidant capacity of soybean plants under salt stress. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, .1-13.
Rasheed, F., Anjum, N.A., Masood, A., Sofo, A., & Khan, N.A. (2020). The key roles of salicylic acid and sulfur in plant salinity stress tolerance. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 1-14.
Rizwan, M., Ali, S., Ibrahim, M., Farid, M., Adrees, M., Bharwana, S.A., Zia-ur-Rehman, M., Qayyum, M.F., & Abbas, F. (2015). Mechanisms of silicon-mediated alleviation of drought and salt stress in plants: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 15416-15431.
Safdar, H., Amin, A., Shafiq, Y., Ali, A., Yasin, R., Shoukat, A., Hussan, M.U., & Sarwar, M.I. (2019). A review: Impact of salinity on plant growth. Nat. Sci, 17(1), 34-40.
Shabaan, M., Asghar, H.N., Zahir, Z.A., Zhang, X., Sardar, M.F., & Li, H. (2022). Salt-tolerant PGPR confer salt tolerance to maize through enhanced soil biological health, enzymatic activities, nutrient uptake and antioxidant defense. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, .901865.
Shabala, S. ed. (2017). Plant stress physiology. Cabi.
Shultana, R., Zuan, A.T.K., Naher, U.A., Islam, A.M., Rana, M.M., Rashid, M.H., Irin, I.J., Islam, S.S., Rim, A.A., & Hasan, A.K. (2022). The PGPR mechanisms of salt stress adaptation and plant growth promotion. Agronomy, 12(10), 2266.
Tabur, S., Avci, Z.D., & Özmen, S. (2021). Exogenous salicylic acid application against mitodepressive and clastogenic effects induced by salt stress in barley apical meristems. Biologia, 76, 341-350.
Talaat, N.B. (2021). Co-application of melatonin and salicylic acid counteracts salt stress-induced damage in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) photosynthetic machinery. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 21, 2893-2906.
Torabian, S., Farhangi-Abriz, S., & Alaee, T. (2021). Hydrochar mitigates salt toxicity and oxidative stress in maize plants. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 67(8), 1104-1118.
Torabian, S., Farhangi-Abriz, S., & Rathjen, J. (2018). Biochar and lignite affect H+-ATPase and H+-PPase activities in root tonoplast and nutrient contents of mung bean under salt stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 129, 141-149.
Zhao, S., Zhang, Q., Liu, M., Zhou, H., Ma, C., & Wang, P. (2021). Regulation of plant responses to salt stress. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(9), 4609.