Role of salicylic acid pre-treatment on the photosynthetic performance of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. L. cvar. Rio Fuego) under salt stress

Imposition of salt stress reduced the net CO 2 assimilation rate, chlorophyll (Chl), anthocyanin and carotenoid contents, stomatal conductance and soluble sugar contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. L. cv. Rio Fuego). Pre-treatments of plant with 10 -4 M salicylic acid (SA) could partially restore the CO 2 fixation rate and photosynthetic pigment levels under 100 mM NaCl exposure. Accumulation of soluble sugars, a biochemical marker of salinity tolerance in tomato, could be detected in pre-treated plants exposed to high salinity. The improved photosynthetic performance, the accumulation of soluble sugars as compatible osmolytes contributed to the successful acclimation of 10 -4 M SA pre-treated tomato plants to