Review article EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID IN AGRICULTURE

Salicylic acid, a naturally occurring plant hormone acting as an important signaling molecule adds to tolerance against abiotic stresses. It plays a vital role in plant growth, ion uptake and transport. Salicylic acid is also involved in endogenous signaling to trigger plant defense against pathogens. This positive effect of SA could be attributed to an increased CO2 assimilation and photosynthetic rate and increased mineral uptake by the stressed plant under SA treatment. The application of salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid or other analogues of SA, to leaves of corn and soybean accelerated their leaf area and dry mass production, but plant height and root length remained unaffected. SA reduced the Na uptake of plants and/or increased the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and the other minerals as compared to control treatment under salt stress.