Effect of Salicylic acid on the shoot and root growth of two cotton varieties grown in semi-arid tropics of Nizamabad.

B. VidyaVardhini* & Y. Venkateshwarlu
Page No. 7-11

The effect of salicylic acid (SA) sprayed in three concentrations viz., 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM and 3.0 mM
on the shoot and root growth of two varieties of cotton (Gossypiumherbaceum L.)viz., Bt- cotton
and non-Btplants grown in the semi-arid tropics of Nizamabad was studied. The soil in Nizamabad
district is saline land black soil wherein the plants usually experience drought and saline stresses.
All the three concentrations of SA stimulated the shoot and root growth of both Bt-cotton and non-
Bt cotton varieties. The Bt-cotton variety showed better performance over non-Bt varieties. SA at
3.0mMconcwas found most effective in increasing the shoot and root growth of both cotton varieties
over 1.0mM, 0.5 mM and untreated controls. The promotion of shoot and root growth of both
cotton varieties is an indicator that SA mitigated the negative effect of the semi-arid conditions of
the soil in Nizamabad district.