Effect of Salicylic Acid on Growth and Oxidative Metabolism of Brassica Juncea and Trigonella Foenum Graceum under Cadmium and Lead Stress

Salicylic acid (SA) is considered as an endogenous growth regulator involved in local and endemic disease resistance in plants in response to a pathogenic attack. In the present study, the effects of SA were studied on Brassica juncea and Trigonella foenum graceum under Cd and Pb stress. When the plants were grown in metals alone there was decrease in shoot length and total chlorophyll content. SA application along with metals proved beneficial as there was less decrease in shoot length and total chlorophyll content. SA treatment influence the H 2 O 2 level in leaves of seedlings by up-regulating the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), repressing the activity of catalase (CAT). The results supported the conclusion that SA played a positive role in both the crops in ameliorating metal stress.