Salicylic Acid Alleviates the Copper Toxicity in Zinnia elegans

Salicylic acid (SA) plays a key role in plant disease resistance and hyper-sensitive cell death but is also implicated in hardening responses to abiotic stress. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of salicylic acid on the growth, eco-physiological and biochemical characteristics in Zinnia elegans plant exposed to copper stress. Effects of copper (Cu) on biomass, root length and shoot height and Cu uptake are also discussed. This experiment was arranged as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications in greenhouse conditions. The experimental treatment consisted of four levels of Cu (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg in potted soil) and three levels of salicylic acid (0, 1, 2 mM) as foliar spray and chelate to soil. Results showed that with increasing levels of copper, reductions in shoot and root growth, leaf area and leaf number were statistically significant (p