Description

Salt stress of arable land is an increasing problem of many irrigated, arid and semi-arid areas of the world where rainfall is not sufficient to leach salts from the root zone, and it is a significant factor in reducing crop productivity. The United Nation Environment Program estimates that approximately 20% of agricultural land and 50% of cropland in the world is saline. Sodium chloride is the most soluble and abundant salt released. These soils have high pH, poor infiltration and permeability, poor physical properties and offer high mechanical impedance to the growth of roots. Salt accumulation in soil induces physiological and metabolic disturbances in crops affecting development, growth, yield and quality of crops. When the plants are subjected to salt stresses the balance between the production of active oxygen species (AOS) and the quenching activity of antioxidants may be upset and oxidative damage may result. This results in the reduction of growth and yield of wheat plant.Wheat is a salt sensitive glycophyte. Foliar application of sodium benzoate mitigates the adverse effects of salinity on wheat. Sodium benzoate acts as an efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger.