Interactions between saline stress and benzyladenine on chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

Exogenous application of BA (0, 50, 100 mg ul--1) had no significant effects on tolerance of chili peppers to salt (--0.75 MPa NaCl:CaCl₂, 3:1, w/w) as measured by vegetative and reproductive weights, numbers of reproductive structures, transpiration and total chlorophyll. When peppers were applied with microliter amounts of ¹⁴C labelled benzyladenine (BA; 44,400 dpm 1⁻¹), BA was translocated primarily acropetally from the site of application. Regardless of application site, translocated BA was ported primarily to expanding leaves, and BA was more readily absorbed by leaf as opposed to stem surfaces. Exogenous application of BA (0, 50, 100 mg ul⁻¹) had no significant effects on tolerance of chili peppers to salt (-0.75 MPa NaCl:CaCl₂, 3:1, w/w) as measured by vegetative and reproductive weights, numbers of reproductive structures, transpiration and total chlorophyll.