Plant Productions

Plant Productions

Phytochemical response of olive (Olea europaea cv. Zard) to foliar application of nano-silicon and sodium nitroprusside under salt stress conditions

Document Type : Research Paper - Biotic and Abiotic Stress

Authors
Naghmeh Pouri
Esmaeil Seifi
Mahdi Alizadeh
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Plant Production, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
10.22055/ppd.2025.50324.2286
Abstract
Introduction
In recent years, salinity has become one of the most important limiting factors for plants growth, causing a decrease in the yield of horticultural crops. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a membrane-permeable free radical and a broad intra- and extracellular messenger, mitigates stresses- especially salt stress- by modulating signaling pathways. Additionally, certain nutrients, such as silicon, can enhance plant growth under salt stress conditions by increasing antioxidant activities and reducing sodium uptake.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted on one-year-old cuttings of the olive cv. “Zard” in the greenhouse of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in 2022. In order to induce salinity stress, sodium chloride (NaCl) was applied at four concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM through irrigation with urban water for 90 days. Irrigation intervals with saline water were considered to be 4 days. Foliar application of elicitors including nano-silicon (at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg. l-1) and sodium nitroprusside (at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mM) alongside a control, was carried out in four times at 20-day intervals. The measured characteristics included chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments, total soluble sugars, total phenols, antioxidant capacity, and sodium (Na), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) elements in leaves and roots.
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the interaction effect of salinity and elicitor on carotenoid and antioxidant was significant. The content of carotenoid decreased with increasing salinity, while foliar application of elicitors (especially nano-silicon) increased it. The application of elicitors at certain concentrations led to a slight reduction in the antioxidant percentage. However, in most treatments, no significant change was observed compared to the control elicitor. The independent effects of salinity on the contents of chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and total soluble sugars were significant and decreased with increasing salinity. Salinity also significantly increased total phenolic content. Foliar application of elicitors enhanced the contents of chlorophyll a, and total chlorophyll and total phenols. On the other hand, the interaction effects of salinity and elicitor significantly impacted Na and K concentrations in roots, root K/Na ratio, and Ca concentration in leaves and roots. Under salinity stress, the concentration of root Na increased slightly. Foliar application of elicitors, especially at the highest level of salinity, further elevated root Na concentration. Higher salinity reduced root K concentration and root K/Na ratio, but the use of elicitors, especially nano-silicon (at 200 mg. l-1), improved both characteristics under salinity conditions. The independent effect of salinity significantly increased leaf Na concentration, while foliar application of elicitors reduced this element. Furthermore, salinity independently led to a significat reduction in leaf K concentration and leaf K/Na ratio.
Conclusion
Salinity stress, particularly at the highest salt concentration (150 mM), severely damaged one-year-old cuttings of olive cv. Zard. Application of nano-silicon and SNP mitigated the oxidative stress and, as a result, enhanced plant tolerance to salinity by modulating antioxidant activity and increasing the content of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments.
Keywords
Antioxidant capacity
Nitric oxide
Nutrient elements
Silicon
Sodium chloride
Subjects
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Plant Productions
Volume 49, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 391-410