The effects of superoxide dismutase, benzyl adenine, and salicylic acid on plant growth and development – A comprehensive review

Both biotic and abiotic stress factors have direct and indirect effects on growth, development, and basic metabolism of plants. Superoxide dismutase has been considered as the principle intracellular antioxidant defense against free radicals, and it has an important function on plant stress tolerance in different environmental adversities such as high or low temperature, drought, heavy metal toxicity, flood, macro- and micro-nutrient deficiency. Benzyl adenine is a cytokinin which plays different roles in plant morphogenesis and development especially root and shoot formation, and promotes yield, fruiting and flowering in different plants. Salicylic acid also has notable functions in flower induction, plant growth, uptake of ions, stomatal movement, and ethylene biosynthesis. Salicylic acid is a type of beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and phenolic acid with a chemical formula C7H6O3, and it is a BHA found as a natural component in herbs and plants. Salicylic acid can also promote the antioxidant activity with significant positive effects on improvement of adaptation of plants to osmotic and salt stress. The present article aims to investigate the most up-to-date findings and results regarding the practical utilization of benzyl adenine, salicylic acid and superoxide dismutase in agricultural and horticultural plants, including researches of successful paradigms for different plants. Also, this article aims to find their important roles and propose further research in this field in sustainable agricultural and horticultural production.