Foliar Application of Cytokinin Hormone and Salicylic Acid on Morphological Traits, Yield Traits of Sunflower Drought Stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Student, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

2 Associate Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

3 Department of Plant Production and Genetics Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22034/saps.2024.61745.3224

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Sunflower productivity is strongly influenced by water availability, especially under drought stress. Plant growth regulators such as cytokinins and salicylic acid can enhancestress tolerance and improve yield by stimulating physiological processes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different irrigation intervals and foliar application of cytokinins and salicylic acid on seed and oil yield of sunflower under drought conditions.
 
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted using a split-plot arrangement based on a randomized complete block design at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz during the 2021–2022 growin g season. Irrigation intervals were assigned to the main plots, while hormone treatments were allocated to subplots. The main factor consisted of three irrigation intervals (8, 12, and 16 days). The sub-factor included five hormone treatments: control (no hormone), cytokinin at 25 and 50 µmol. L-1, and salicylic acid at 200 and 400 mmol. L-1.
 
Results: Increasing the irrigation interval from 8 days to 12 and 16 days led to a significant reduction in plant height, stem diameter, number of seeds per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biomass yield, oil yield, and oil percentage, while empty seeds increased under water deficit conditions. Results indicated the negative impact of prolonged irrigation intervals on sunflower productivity. However, the application of plant growth regulators partially alleviated these adverse effects. Under the 16-day irrigation intreval, seed yield increased by 69%, 72%, 37%, and 64% with the application of cytokinin at 25 and 50 µmol. L-1 and salicylic acid at 200 and 400 mmol. L-1, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Furthermore, the application of cytokinin at 50 µmol. L-1 under irrigation intervals of 8, 12, and 16 days increased seed yield by 33%, 16.5%, and 72%, respectively. Similarly, oil yield was improved by 33.5%, 19.5%, 50%, and 24% under the same conditions compared with hormone-deficit plants, highlighting the positive role of cytokinin in yield performance under both optimal and drought stress conditions.
 
Conclusion: Cytokinin and salicylic acid can be considered effective strategies for improving the allocation of photosynthetic assimilates, seed yield, and oil yield in sunflower under both optimal irrigation and drought stress conditions. Although both hormones showed beneficial effects, cytokinin at a concentration of 50 µmol. L-1 was the most effective.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Al Abboud  M, Mashraqi A, Qanash H, Gattan H, Felemban H and Moawad H. 2024. Green biosynthesis of bimetallic ZnO@AuNPs with its formulation into cellulose derivative: biological and environmental applications. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 11(1): 60. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52113464  
Alizadeh O, Jafari Haghighi B and Ordookhani K. 2010. The effects of exogenous cytokinin application on sink size in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(21): 2893-2898.
Arif Y, Sami F, Siddiqui H, Bajguz A and Hayat S. 2020. Salicylic acid in relation to other phytohormones in plant: A study towards physiology and signal transduction under challenging environment. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 175: 104040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2020.104040
Attar Roshan M, Rahnama A, Meskarbashee M, Siahpoosh M.R and Harrison M.T. 2024. Effect of sowing date and irrigation intervals on morphological traits and seed yield of new indehiscent sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences, 26(2): 148-169. (In Persian with English Abstract). http://agrobreedjournal.ir/article-1-1354-fa.html  
Bartrina I, Otto E, Strnad M, Werner T and Schmülling T. 2011. Cytokinin regulates the activity of   eproductive meristems, flower organ size, ovule formation, and thus seed yield in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell, 23(1): 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.110.079079
Bettaieb I, Hamrouni-Sellami I, Bourgou S, Limam F and Marzouk B. 2011. Drought effects on polyphenol composition and antioxidant activities in aerial parts of Salvia officinalis L. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 33: 1103-1111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0638-z.
 Chimenti C and Hall A. 2001. Grain number responses to temperature during floret differentiation in sunflower. Field Crops Research, 72(3): 177-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(01)00175-7
 Dawood M, Sadak M and Hozayen M.2012. ̍Physiological role of salicylic acid in improving performance, yield and some biochemical aspects of sunflower plant grown under newly reclaimed sandy soil.
Dinarvandi M, Rahnama A, Meskarbashee M and Zoufan P. 2025. Foliar application of salicylic acid effect on photosynthetic properties, enzymatic antioxidant activities, and yield of canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars under terminal heat stress. Journal of Crop Production, 18(2): 87-112. (In Persian with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.22069/ejcp.2025.23526.2674
Dodd I. 2003. Hormonal interactions and stomatal responses. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 22, 32-46  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-003-0023-x.
Habibi F, Normohamadi G, Heidarisharif- Abad  H, Eivazi A and Majidi-Heravan, A. (2012). Effect of sowing date on cold tolerance, and some agronomic traits in bread wheat genotypes at west Azerbaijan province conditions. World Applied Sciences Journal1, 6 (2): 232-239.
El Bially M, Saudy H, Hashe F, El–Gabr Y and Shahin M. 2022. Salicylic acid as a tolerance inducer of drought stress on sunflower grown in sandy soil. Gesunde Pflanzen, 74(3): 603-613. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00635-0 G
Hamada A & Al-Hakimi A. 2002. Salicylic acid versus salinity-drought-induced stress on wheat seedlings. Rostlinna Vyroba, 47(10): 444-450.
Hasanuzzaman M, Bhuyan MB, Zulfiqar F, Raza A, Mohsin SM, Al Mahmud J, Fujita M and Fotopoulos V. 2020. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense in plants under abiotic stress: Revisiting the crucial role of a universal defense regulator. Antioxidants, 9: 681.
Heydari A, Bijanzadeh A, Naderi R and Imam S. 2013. Effect of end-of-season drought stress and salicylic acid on seed yield and plant shading temperature in two canola cultivars. Crop Physiology, 7(27): 53-37. (In Persian with English Abstract).  https://sid.ir/paper/356501/fa(.
 Hussein Y, Amin G, Azab A and Gahin H. 2015. Induction of drought stress resistance in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) plant by salicylic acid and kinetin. Journal of Plant Sciences, 10(4): 128-135. https://doi.org/10.3923/jps.2015.128.141.
Katerji N, Mastrorilli M, Van Hoorn J, Lahmer F, Hamdy A and Oweis T. 2009. Durum wheat and barley productivity in saline-drought environments. Europea Journal of Agronomy, 31(1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2009.01.003
Kaya C, Tuna A and Okant A. 2010. Effect of foliar applied kinetin and indole acetic acid on maize plants grown under saline conditions. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 34(6): 529-538. https://doi.org/10.3906/tar-0906-173
Khajavi M, Rahnama A, Meskarbashee M, Moosavi S.A and Harrison M.T. 2023. Effect of cytokinin hormone on morphological and yield traits of sunflower under terminal heat stress. Crop Physiology Journal (56): 63-78. (In Persian with English Abstract) .URL: http://cpj.ahvaz.iau.ir/article-1-1595-fa.html
Killi F and Altunbay S. 2005. Seed yield, oil content and yield components of confection and oilseed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars planted in different dates. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 7(1): 21-24.
Korkmaz A, Uzunlu M and  Demirkiran A. 2007. Treatment with acetyl salicylic acid protects muskmelon seedlings against drought stress. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 29:503-508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-007-0060-3
Liu H, Li F and Xu H. 2004. Deficiency of water can enhance root respiration rate of drought-sensitive but not drought-tolerant spring wheat. Agricultural Water Management, 64(1): 41-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3774(03)00143-4
Maherkh A. Nabipour M, Dezfuli H and Chukan R. 2015. Physiological evaluation of the effect of auxin and cytokinin hormones on changes in corn grain yield under drought stress conditions. Doctoral Thesis, p 70 (220 pages). (In Persian with English Abstract).
Maleki N & Majidi M. 2015. Evaluation of Iranian and foreign safflower germplasms under normal and drought stress conditions. Journal of Crop Breeding, 7(15):1-13. (In Persian with English Abstract) https://doi.org/10.22067/JCESC.2021.37185.0.
Mashkoh M and Zarashti M . 2009. Effect of drought stress on quantitative and qualitative traits of new wheat cultivars. Master thesis. 117 pages.
Martínez C, Pons E, Prats G and León J. 2004. Salicylic acid regulates flowering time and links defence responses and reproductive development. The Plant Journal, 37(2): 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-313x.2003.01954.x
 Mohammadi M, Tavakoli A and Saba J. 2014. Effects of foliar application of 6-benzylaminopurine on yield and oil content in two spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars. Plant Growth Regulation, 73, 219-226. (In Persian with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-013-9882-8
 Nagar S, Ramakrishnan S, Singh V, Singh G, Dhakar R, Umesh D and Arora A. 2015. Cytokinin enhanced biomass and yield in wheat by improving N-metabolism under water limited environment. Indian Journal of Plant Physiology, 20:31-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40502-014-0134-3
 Noreen S, Ashraf M, Hussain M and Jamil A. 2009. Exogenous application of salicylic acid enhances antioxidative capacity in salt stressed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 41(1): 473-479.
Omidinasab D, Meskarbashee M and Rahnama Ghahfarokhi A. 2024. Effect of deficit irrigation on seed yield and oil fatty acids composition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars under weather conditions of Khuzestan in Iran. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences, 26(3): 241-257. (In Persian with English Abstract).  http://agrobreedjournal.ir/article-1-1356-fa.html
Osugi A and Sakakibara H. 2015. How do plants respond to cytokinins and what is their importance? BMC Biology, 13(1): 1-10.
Fereres R, Gimenez E and Fernandez J M. 1986. Genetic variability in sunflower cultivars under drought. I. Yield relationships. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 37(6): 573-582.
Rahnama A, Khajavi M, Meskarbashee M, Moosavi S. A and Harrison M. T (2026) Cytokinin modulates photosynthesis, antioxidant profiles and fatty acid composition in sunflower plants subjected to extreme heat stress. Plant Growth Regulation, 106: 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-025-01413-4
Ramos H and Figueroa M. 2023. Use of salicylic acid during cultivation of plants as a strategy to improve its metabolite profile and beneficial health effects. Italian Journal of Food Science, 35(1): 79-90. https://doi.org/10.15586/ijfs.v35i1.2332
Rayya M, Thanaa S and Nabila E. 2015. Photosynthetic pigments and fruit quality of Manzanillo olive as affected by 6-benzyladenine and studying the chemical constituents in leaves using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy technique. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 8(6): 514-522.
Roitsch, T and Ehneb, R. 2000. Regulation of source/sink relations by cytokinins. Plant Growth Regulation, 32(2): 359-367.
Shakirova F, Sakhabutdinova A, Bezrukova M V, Fatkhutdinova R and  Fatkhutdinova D. 2003. Changes in the hormonal status of wheat seedlings induced by salicylic acid and salinity. Plant Science, 164(3): 317-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9452(02)00415-6
Sheikh Mamo B, Rahnama A and Hassibi P. 2023. The influence of terminal heat stress on physiological and yield characteristics of promising sunflower cultivars in Ahvaz climate condition. Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences, 16(3): 835-851. https://doi.org/10.22077/escs.2023.4928.2107
Tankari M, Wang C, Zhang X, Li L, Soothar R, Ma H and Wang Y. 2019. Leaf gas exchange, plant water relations and water use efficiency of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Inoculated with rhizobia under different soil water regimes. Water, 11(3): 498. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030498
Ullah F and Bano A. 2011. Effect of plant growth regulators on oil yield and biodiesel production of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, 23:27-31. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1677-04202011000100005
Ullah F, Bano A & Nosheen A. 2012. Effects of plant growth regulators on growth and oil quality of canola (Brassica napus L.) under drought stress. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 44(6): 1873-1880.
Waisi H, Janković B, Nikolić B, Dragičević V, Panić and Tosti T. 2018. Influence of various concentrations of 24-epibrassinolide on the kinetic parameters during isothermal dehydration of two maize hybrids. South African Journal of Botany, 119: 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.08.006
 Yang J, Miao W and Chen J. 2021. Roles of jasmonates and brassinosteroids in rice responses to high temperature stress–a review. The Crop Journal. 9 (5), 977–985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cj.2021.02.007
Yegorov B, Turpurova Т, Sharabaeva E and Bondar Y. 2019. Prospects of using by-products of sunflower oil production in compound feed industry. Food Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.15673/fst.v13i1.1337
 Zaheer M, Raza M, Saleem M, Erinle K, Iqbal R and Ahmad S. 2019. Effect of rhizobacteria and cytokinins application on wheat growth and yield under normal vs drought conditions. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 50(20): 2521-2529.
Zahiri F and Khajauinejad S. 2018. Investigating the effect of drought and salicylic acid on yield and yield components of sunflower variety Haisan 33. Doctoral thesis, (104 pages).
 
 
Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Volume 36, Issue 1
2026
Pages 135-150

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics