Ameliorative Action of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on Photosynthetic Disruption in Triticum aestivum Under Salinity Stress

Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences | Vol. 12, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 132–136

DOI: 10.46882/2026.AAAS.120807

Research Article

Title: Ameliorative Action of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on Photosynthetic Disruption in Triticum aestivum Under Salinity Stress

Names of Authors: Al-Ghamdi, A. S.¹, Fahad, S.², and Al-Ahmadi, M. S.¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ²Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Abstract: Soil salinity pressures restrict wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cellular performance by triggering osmotic stress and accumulation of toxic sodium (Na+) ions. This greenhouse investigation evaluated the protective efficacy of exogenous salicylic acid foliar sprays (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mM) on wheat crops exposed to a 120 mM NaCl stress baseline. Gas exchange parameters, antioxidant enzyme actions, and intracellular ion distributions were analyzed. Spraying with 1.0 mM salicylic acid reduced Na+ accumulation in leaf blades by 42.6% while increasing potassium (K+) retention, preserving a favorable K+/Na+ homeostatic balance. The net photosynthetic rate increased by 28.5% compared to unsprayed saline control plants, supported by enhanced stomatal conductance levels. Biochemical assays revealed a 2.3-fold increase in ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase functions within treated tissues, which restricted lipid peroxidation damage. The findings confirm that salicylic acid acts as a physiological protectant, stabilizing photosynthetic infrastructure under high salinity inputs.

Keywords: Salinity resilience; Chemical priming; Ion transport; Antioxidant networks; Wheat physiology; Proline synthesis.

Manuscript Timeline: Received May 02, 2026; Revised June 28, 2026; Accepted August 02, 2026; Published August 24, 2026.

Citation: Al-Ghamdi, A. S., Fahad, S., and Al-Ahmadi, M. S. (2026). Ameliorative Action of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on Photosynthetic Disruption in Triticum aestivum Under Salinity Stress. Advances in Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences, 12(8), pp. 122–126.

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