INTERACTIVE EFFECT OF SALICYLIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID ON GASEOUS EXCHANGE AND MINERAL NUTRIENTS OF CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.) UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is used medicinally, nutritionally, and agriculturally. Salinity affects growth and quality. Salinity can be mitigated by shotgun methods such as plant growth regulators. To investigate the physiochemical role of salicylic acid (SA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and their combinations (SA + AsA) under salt stress in chicory genotypes, two chicory genotypes (Hamedan and Shiraz) were exposed to four salinity (0, 100, 150, 200 mM NaCl) levels after 45 days of sowing and on the very next day of salinity four levels of plant growth regulators i.e. water spray, SA (0.5 mM), AsA (0.5 mM) and SA (0.5 mM) + AsA (0.5 mM) were exogenously applied as a foliar spray. Salt stress considerably decreased the shoot dry weight, root length, chlorophyll content index, gas exchange attributes, shoot calcium, phosphorus, sodium and root potassium and root sodium. Exogenous applications of SA and AsA as foliar spray enhanced the growth by increasing the chlorophyll content, gas exchange parameters as well as ionic contents. Overall, the application of SA, AsA and their combination increased salt tolerance in chicory. Moreover, the performance of the Chicory genotype Shiraz was significantly better as compared to Hamedan.