Efeito do ácido salicílico em plantas de manjericão sob estresse hídrico

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) also known as alfavaca is na herbaceous, aromatic and medicinal plant of Asian origin that is now cultivated all over the world. In addition to the medicinal properties, it also presents a relevant importance in the cosmetics, perfumery and condiments industry. Water stress in the plant can be mitigated through the application of growth regulators such as salicylic acid (SA). Due to the increasing demand for medicinal and aromatic herbs and also the need to improve their agronomic management, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid in the physiological behavior of basilão submitted to water stress. The experimente was conducted on the Academic Unit of Garanhuns. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four water treatments: T1: (control) irrigated plants without SA; T2: plants irrigated with SA; T3: non- irrigated plants with SA, each treatment containing tem replicates each composed of 1 plant. The SA concentration used in plants was 33 mm/L (Brazilian unit of measurement). The results showed that water stress significantly reduced water contente in basil plants. This reduction was more than 50% for non- irrigated plants (T3, T4). Non- irrigated basil plants without SA showed a 14% reduction in plant height when compared to irrigated plants without SA. It is observed that non-irrigated plants (T3;T4) presented a 17% increase in leaf temperature. This increase in temperature favored a significant reductuion of more than 80% in the stomatal closure of the non-irrigated plants (T3;T4). These results suggest that the use of SA did not contribute positively to basil plants under water stress.