Salicylic acid improves physiological traits of Zea mays L. seedlings under copper contamination

A pot sand culture experiment was conducted to study the effect of copper (Cu) on maize plant growth with or without salicylic acid (SA). Nutrient medium (i.e. half strength Hoagland) along with sixteen different concentrations of Cu and SA were applied as rooting medium twice a week. The lower level of salicylic acid (0.1 mM) increased the biomass production, length of shoot and root, number and area of leaves. While higher level of salicylic acid (10.0 Mm) reduced all the growth parameters. The excess copper (10.0 mM) reduced the shoot and root length, biomass production, number and area of leaves. In both harvests copper accumulations in root had highest value by treating with 10 mM SA and 5 µM copper contamination and minimum value by applying the same concentration of SA but lowest concentration of copper 0.5 µM. While copper accumulation in shoot is not effected by addition of different levels of copper and salicylic acid at both harvest levels. Results indicate that SA application may be one approach to improve growth of this crop under copper contamination but high concentration of SA can decrease the crop growth and Cu accumulation in roots increased with increased Cu contamination.