ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effects of Salicylic Acid and Glycine Betaine on Gas Exchanges, Proline content and Yield of Potato Cultivars under Water Stress Conditions

This investigation was aimed to study the response of potato plants to water deficit and exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) and glycine betaine (GB). Potato cultivars, Spirit, Born, Arinda and Banba were experienced under two irrigation regimes, 30 and 60 % depletion of available soil water, and two concentrations of both SA (0.5 and 1.0 mM) and GB (1.0 and 2.0 mM) additionally the control (0.0 mM SA and GB). Gas exchanges, proline content (Pro), root volume (RV), root/shoot ratio (R/S), plant dry mass (PDM), number tuber (NT) and yield of potato cultivars were measured. With the exception of R/S, water deficit led to notable decreases in gas exchanges, RV, PDM, NT and yield of potato cultivars and increases in Pro content. Foliar application of SA and GB resulted in significant increases in photosynthesis (Photo), carbon dioxide concentration in the sub-stomatal chamber (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), Pro, PDM and yield in some levels of SA and GB; the level of the increases appeared more when potato plants were grown under water deficit conditions. All the overhead effects supported PDM and yield of potato cultivars to increase by exogenous application of SA and GB and directed to the assumption that water deficit converted harmful effects on potato cultivars could be released by exogenous applied SA and GB.