FOLIAR APPLICATION OF SALICYLIC ACID TO

DEVELOP RESISTANCE AGAINST SALINITY

STRESS AND SUSTAIN PLANT GROWTH IN
CHILLIES

By

Pakiza Fatima

M.Sc.(Hons.)Horticulture

Reg. No. 2019gu2731

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science(Hons.)

In

Horticulture

Department of Horticulture

Faculty of Agriculture Sciences

Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan

2025
In The Name of Allah, The
Most Gracious, The Most
Merciful.
To,

The Controller of Examination,

Ghazi University,
Dera Ghazi Khan
We, the supervisory committee, certify that the contents and form of this thesis submitted by
Ms. Pakiza Fatima, Reg. No. 2019-GU-2731 has been found satisfactory and recommended
that it be processed for evaluation by the external examiner(s) for the award of the degree.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN (Supervisor) ______________________________

Dr. Abdul Manan
Department of Horticulture
Faculty of Agriculture
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan
MEMBER _______________________________

Dr. Mateen Sajid

Department of Horticulture
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan
MEMBER _______________________________

Dr. Sagheer Atta

Department of Plant Pathology
Faculty Agricultural Sciences
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan
Forwarded
Chairman
Department ________________________________

Director,
Board of Advanced Studies and Research
Ghazi University, D. G. Khan

DECLARATION

I hereby declare the contents of the thesis “Foliar Application of salycylic Acid to develop
resistance against salinity stress and sustain plant growth in chillies” are product of my own
research and no part has been copied from any published source (Except the references,
standards, mathematical/ formulate / protocols etc.). I further declare that this work has not
been submitted for award of any other diploma/ degree. The university may take action if the
information provided is found inaccurate at any stage. In case of any default the scholar will
be proceeded against as per HEC (Plagiarism policy).

__________________

Pakiza Fatima
Reg .No. 2019-GU-2731
 DEDICATED

To

The HOLY PROPHET HAZARAT MUHAMMAD (S.A.W) who

is the most influential leader of the world and he is the only social
reformer in the history and who is regarded as supremely successful
on both the religious and secular levels alike.

&

To

The Sublime Love of My affectionate Parents

Whose hands always rose in prayers for us and whose are with us to
feel the bud of their wishes and prayers blooming into flowers.

My beloved Brother and Sisters

Who have been patient and supportive throughout my study.

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All acclamation and appreciation are for Almighty ALLAH who is the Creator of this
universe, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the world, Lord of all things, master of the Day of
Judgment and Hath power over all things (Most Gracious and Most Merciful).

All the respect is due to HOLY PROPHET HAZRAT MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H) the
greatest social and spiritual reformer, who is a symbol of guidance and a foundation of
Knowledge. Trembling lips and wet eyes praise for HOLY PROPHET HAZRAT
MUHAMMAD (P.B.U.H) who is forever a torch of guidance for entire humanity.

I feel great pleasure in expressing my appreciation and gratitude to my supervisor, Dr.

Department of Horticulture, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, for his regardless help.
Valuable suggestions, sincere advices, personal interest and connoisseurment of this report. I
thank with deep motion of gratitude and great appreciation to Department of Horticulture,
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, for his beneficial criticism, great support and sincere
cooperation during the present study the valuable suggestions, cooperation and kind behavior
is highly acknowledged. Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, for his proper guidance,
inspiring co-operation and encouragement during the research work.

I am also indebted to my Dearest Friends:Rimsha Ramzan and Fouzia Jabeen for their
consistent support, constructive discussion, and positive criticism to improve and bring this
dissertation in the present form. Last but not least, I have deep appreciation and the best
regard for the affection and financial cooperation of my Father:Talib Hussain, Sweet
Brother:Muhammad Nasir Shahzad Sweet Cousin Loving: Mother and My Sweet Heart
Princess, Beloved Uncle, Sweet Brothers, Sisters, and rest of the family members with out
whose sacrifice and prays, the present would have been a mere dream, may Allah give them a
long and happily life with me. “Ameen!”

Pakiza Fatima
 ABSTRACT
Salinity is a common abiotic stress that significantly reduces crop productivity in arid and
semi-arid regions such as Dera Ghazi Khan, where both soil and irrigation water are saline.
Crop species such as Capsicum annuum (chilli), an important horticultural crop globally, are
highly sensitive to salt stress that affects growth, physiology, biochemistry and yield. To
determine whether foliar-applied salicylic acid could mitigate salt stress effects, a study was
carried out during the 2024-2025 growing season in the Department of Horticulture, Ghazi
University. The experiment was a completely randomized design with three replications with
four salinity levels (0, 75, 100 and 150 mM NaCl), supplemented with a 1.0 mM SA foliar
spray. Two genotypes of chilli were used, and a comprehensive series of morphological,
physiological and biochemical traits were measured. Both ANOVA and LSD tests at the 5 %
significance level demonstrated that increasing salinity significantly decreased plant height,
biomass, chlorophyll content, and relative water content, while increasing oxidative stress
indicators, as well as osmolyte accumulation. Foliar application of SA effectively mitigated
the adverse effects of salinity through enhancing antioxidant defenses, maintaining
membrane stability, improving water retention for leaves, and stimulating photosynthetic
capacity. Responses prompted by SA were largely varietal in nature, with one genotype
demonstrating considerable improvement and tolerance when treated with SA under saline
conditions. In conclusion, SA foliar sprays, as a means of regulating physiological and
biochemical processes, may represent an effective, low-cost management strategy to improve
salinity tolerance in chillies and are an option for achieving sustainable chilli production for
sown on saline containing soils. It would be prudent to conduct multi-location trials in
addition to conducting molecular studies for further confirmatory data on the findings with
this study, as well as to investigate the physiological and molecular processes associated with
SA-induced tolerance.