Salicylic Acid and Water Stress Effects on Growth and Proline of Cucumber Seedlings

The effects of salicylic acid(SA) and water deficit on growth and proline accumulation were investigated in cucumber(Cucurmis sativus L.) seedlings. Exogenous application of SA(100 $\mu$M-1 mM) led to a noticeable decrease in root and shoot growth, and dry weight of seedlings. Anatomical observation on leaf of cucumber revealed that the thickness of all leaf tissue components decreased in SA-treated plants. The effect was most pronounced on the width of the adaxial epidermis. In the separate effects of SA(0, 100, 500 and 1000 $\mu$M) and water deficit induced by PEG(0, 4.4, 7.0 and 9.6 %) on growth, the water deficit treatments had greater effects on growth traits than SA. Combinations of SA and PEG(SA+PEG) decreased shoot and root dry matter, and root length. Proline increased slightly in SA-treated seedlings, but exhibited a marked increase in water deficit application. Combinations of SA+PEG induced higher proline in both shoots and roots than SA stress alone. Shoots had higher proline than roots. Our data support a role of SA potentiating the osmotic stress response of germinating cucumber seedling.