Interactive effects of salicylic acid and silicon on some physiological responses of cadmium-stressed maize seedlings

Abstract

The impacts of salicylic acid and silicon on some physiological parameters of maize seedlings in the presence of cadmium (100 μM) were investigated. Inhibitory effects of cadmium on seedling growth resulted in reduced shoot and root fresh weight, low percentage of relative water content, low chlorophyll, free proline and soluble sugars contents and a low rate of lipid peroxidation. Results indicated that salicylic acid and silicon alleviate the inhibitory effects of cadmium on maize seedlings by increasing both their chlorophyll content and fresh weight. Although individual treatments of salicylic acid and silicon reduced plants free proline, soluble sugars and cadmium uptake and lipid peroxidation rate, they improved root and shoot fresh weights in both cadmium stressed and unstressed seedlings. When combined, salicylic acid and silicon alleviated the inhibitory effects of cadmium on seedlings significantly.