HOW SALICYLIC ACID MODULATE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS, GROWTH AND YIELD OF CANOLA
HAMED KESHAVARZ
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
SEYED ALI MOHAMMAD MODARRES SANAVY *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In this experiment, the possibility of growth promoting of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) during two growth stage on chlorophyll (Chl) content, yield and yield components of canola were investigated. for the purpose of improving above traits, salicylic acid was applied in four concentrations (0, 100, 200 and 400 µM) during two different growing stages (first time; when temperature was close to 7-10°C and second time; when temperature was close to 7-10°C at the end of winter) on two canola cultivars (Licord and RGS). The total chlorophyll content was higher when 100 µM was applied at the second stage of the application on Licord cultivar. Salicylic acid foliar application led to increase in seed yield of both cultivars. The highest plant height, seed weight and plant biomass were obtained from Licord cultivar. The greatest pod number per plants was observed in Licord which was treated with 100 µM salicylic acid at the first time while the highest seed number per pod was observed in the former cultivar which was treated with 200 µM salicylic acid at the first time. In general, results revealed that salicylic application increased canola growth and productivity of canola seed yield in both cultivars.
Keywords: Cold temperature, chlorophyll content, plant growth regulator, seed yield