Salinity of soil is a major abiotic stress limiting the crop production and growth of safflower. To mitigate stress, the effects of penconazole (PEN) on the growth of safflower were studied to understand the underlying mechanisms of salt tolerance. PEN, a triazole derivative, which has both fungicidal and plant growth regulator properties, protects plants from several types of abiotic stresses. The purpose of this work is to assess the effect of sodium chloride (0, 100, and 200 mM) and PEN (15 mg/L) on some biochemical responses of safflower. Results revealed that salicylic acid (SA) content increased under salinity however, indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA) contents decreased. Further, in terms of fatty acids, palmitic and oleic acids contents decreased, while stearic, linoleic and linolenic acids content increased under salinity. Exogenous PEN had a positive effect on SA and GA contents, as well as palmitic and stearic acids content, but decreased IAA, linoleic acid and linolenic acid contents in safflower plants. Safflower is a viable alternative for use in rotations where saline irrigation water limits productivity of non-tolerant crops. Our data provide new insights to mechanisms that help regulate salinity resistance in safflower. PEN may be considered as a foliar application to ameliorate salinity effects, due to its low price and availability. تفاصيل المقالة

Acclimation of plants to stress conditions depends upon activation of cascade of signaling networks involved in stress perception. Regulation of antioxidative system to maintain a balance between the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and their scavenging to keep them at signaling level has been previously documented. Recently, role of triazolic compounds like penconazole, paclobutrazole, triadimefon, and hexaconazole in the regulation of metabolic network under stress conditions has emerged through crosstalk between chemical signaling pathways. Thus, stress signaling and metabolic balance is an important area with respect to increase crop yield in adverse environmental conditions. This review outlines the recent advances on improvement in stress resistance by various triazolic compounds, aiming to identify new mechanisms of stress tolerance, and therefore, to contribute sustainable crop yield under stress to bring some potential practical utilization in the future. Researches have revealed that triazolic compounds, to some extent, help plants to cope with adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, these compounds could be used for improvement of plant growth and productivity in such severe conditions. تفاصيل المقالة