Exogenously Applied Salicylic Acid Boosts Morpho-Physiological Traits, Yield, and Water Productivity of Lowland Rice under Normal and Deficit Irrigation

The main constraint on rice cultivation in the Mediterranean area is limited irrigation and its large water consumption. In addition, very sensitive to drought conditions because of stress morpho-physiological traits yield reduction. application salicylic acid (SA) has been noticed be effective alleviating adverse effects rice. current investigation was conducted as a split-split arrangement under randomized complete block design with two lowland cultivars (Giza177 Giza179) SA foliar at four concentrations (0, 400, 700, 1000 µM) normal conditions. results showed that plant growth, leaf photosynthetic pigments, yields, most studied were significantly affected by (I), cultivar (C), concentration (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01). interaction effect I × C only significant carotenoids content 0.05). reduction grain more pronounced Giza179 proved drought-tolerant all conditions, while Giza177 drought-sensitive cultivar. 700 µM gave best both compared other concentrations. Grain for (Yp) (Ys) highly positively correlated indices mean productivity (MP), geometric (GMP), tolerance index (STI), (YI), stability (YSI), resistance (DI), harmonic (HM), golden (GOL). While they are negatively susceptibility (SSI), (TOL), ratio (YR), percentage (SSPI), abiotic (ATI). It could concluded SA, growth regulator, used alleviate harmful inadequate availability soil well improve productivity, yield.