24-Epibrassinolide and salicylic acid alleviate the photosynthesis and yield inhibition under water stress in chick Pea

This study was aimed to find the effects of 28-epibrassinolide (28-EBL) and salicylic acid on chickpea seedlings subjected to water stress, either alone and supplemented with 28-EBL and Salicylic acid treatments. Combined supplementation of EBL+SA alone also exhibited the significant improvement on chlorophyll content (34.4% of Chl a and 35.5 % of Chl b) than EBL and SA alone treatments compared to the control plants. Control plants receiving the EBL+SA alone treatment showed the significant effect (by 32.8%) than the EBL and SA alone treatment (20.4 % and 11.4% respectively) compared to the control for carotenoid levels. combined supplementation of EBL+SA exhibited the significant improvement of PN (21%; 0.0411, p≤0.05) over their individuals in comparison to control. Co-application of EBL and SA was more effective (44%; 0.0341, p≤0.05) over unstressed control than their individual applications in enhancing gS in control plants. Plants treated with EBL+SA alone showed a marked increase in Ci (by 20%) compared to control plants. Co-application of EBL and SA was more effective (41.2%; 0.0265, p≤0.05) over unstressed control than their individual applications in enhancing E in control plants. Co-application of EBL and SA considerably increased the Fv/Fm and ФPSII in comparison to unstressed control. Control plants treated with EBL+SA exhibited the more impact on Ru BP case activity (33.1%; 0.0411, p≤0.05) over unstressed control than their individual applications over the control plants. Co-application of EBL and SA was more effective (32.4%; 0.0237, p≤0.05) over unstressed control than their individual applications in enhancing FB Pase activity in control plants. Control plants treated with EBL+SA was found to be more effective on the PGK activity by 63.3% (0.0112, p≤0.05) than their individuals (EBL by 52.1% and SA by 36.1%) compared to control. EBL and SA has a more significant effect than their individual applications on the improvement of leaf starch and sucrose concentrations in drought stressed and well-watered plants.