Abstract
Exogenous application of growth regulators under saline condition is an economically feasible approach to alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress in plants. The main objective of this study to evaluate the ameliorative role of foliar applied sorbitol in various biochemical mechanisms of salt stressed spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Seeds were grown in pots and irrigated with different salt concentrations (50mM, 100mM and 150mM NaCl). Various sorbitol concentrations (15, 30 and 45 mM) were applied on foliar parts after five weeks of germination. Increasing salt concentrations considerably decreased total chlorophylls, carotenoids, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, carbohydrates, and total proteins while flavonoids, phenols and total antioxidants showed significant increase with increasing salt concentrations. Foliar application of different concentrations of sorbitol showed significant improvement in all above mentioned parameters in saline and non-saline conditions. Sorbitol (30mM) showed better performance in both type of conditions. Therefore, foliar application of sorbitol play positive role to overcome salt stress in Spinacia oleracea L.
