Ameliorative effects of phosphoric acid by modulating growth, biochemical and anatomical attributes of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under salinity stress

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Increased soil salinity due to climate change adversely affects plant growth; however, phosphoric acid serves as an effective amendment under saline conditions. The current study was planned to explore the role of phosphoric acid on growth, biochemical and anatomical responses of wheat exposed to salinity stress. To assess it, a pot experiment was conducted on wheat crop with four levels of salinity (control, 6dS m−1, 12dS m−1, and 18dS m−1) and four doses of phosphoric acid (control, 25%, 50% and 75% of soil gypsum requirement (SGR). The results showed that plant growth, grain yield and pigment contents (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) decreased with increasing levels of salinity, however; the application of phosphoric acid increased plant growth, grain yield and pigment contents. The oxidative stress induced by salinity was mitigated by the activation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD and SOD) of 2.15, 1.82 and 1.58 fold and by phosphoric acid application increased up to 1.46, 1.39 and 1.14 fold, respectively, compared to that of control treatment. Sodium accumulation in different plant organs increased with increasing soil salinity levels in the given trend shoot > leaf > seed but decreased by the application of phosphoric acid. The increasing concentration of Na+ affected the concentration of K+. Cortex cell area and vascular bundles (xylem and phloem) were also affected by salinity stress but phosphoric acid minimized the negative effects of salt stress. It was concluded that the application of phosphoric acid improved the crop growth and yield along with other morphological and anatomical attributes.