Mitigation of salinity stress in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) through topical application of salicylic acid and silver nanoparticles

Muhammad Shahbaz; Tauseef Anwar; Sammer Fatima; Nilgün Onursal; Huma Qureshi; Waseem Akhtar Qureshi; Naimat Ullah; Walid Soufan; Wajid Zaman

doi:10.1007/s12298-024-01535-5

Mitigation of salinity stress in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) through topical application of salicylic acid and silver nanoparticles

Physiol Mol Biol Plants. 2025 Jan;31(1):27-40. doi: 10.1007/s12298-024-01535-5. Epub 2024 Dec 30.

Authors

Muhammad Shahbaz¹, Tauseef Anwar¹, Sammer Fatima², Nilgün Onursal³, Huma Qureshi⁴, Waseem Akhtar Qureshi⁵, Naimat Ullah⁶, Walid Soufan⁷, Wajid Zaman⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100 Pakistan.
² Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, 50700 Pakistan.
³ Education Faculty of Department of Mathematics and Science, Siirt University, 56100 Siirt Merkez, Siirt, Türkiye.
⁴ Department of Botany, University of Chakwal, Chakwal, 48800 Pakistan.
⁵ Cholistan Institute of Desert Studies (CIDS), The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100 Pakistan.
⁶ Institute of Biological Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, 29220 Pakistan.
⁷ Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences King, Saud University, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541 Republic of Korea.

PMID: 39901956
PMCID: PMC11787077 (available on 2026-01-01)
DOI: 10.1007/s12298-024-01535-5

Abstract

Salinity stress poses a significant threat to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by impairing water and nutrient uptake, disrupting cellular functions, and increasing oxidative damage. This study investigates the impact of Salicylic acid (SA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on growth, biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress markers in salt-stressed sunflower plants. Experiments were conducted in a controlled greenhouse environment at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, using sunflower seeds (Orisun 701). AgNPs were synthesized using neem leaf extract and characterized through SEM, FTIR, zeta potential analysis, and XRD. Treatments included foliar application of SA (10 mM) and AgNPs (40 ppm) under 100 mM sodium chloride-induced salt stress. Growth metrics, antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll content, and oxidative stress markers (H₂O₂ and MDA levels) were measured to evaluate treatment effects. The SA and AgNP treatments improved sunflower growth under salt stress, with AgNPs showing a greater impact. SA increased shoot fresh weight by 16.4%, root fresh weight by 6.9%, and chlorophyll content by 12.7%, while AgNPs enhanced shoot fresh weight by 30.5%, root fresh weight by 11.6%, and total chlorophyll by 80%. AgNPs also significantly reduced H₂O₂ by 42.7% and MDA by 34.6%, indicating reduced oxidative damage. Cluster analysis further demonstrated the distinct physiological responses elicited by AgNPs compared to SA. SA and AgNPs enhance sunflower resilience to salinity, with AgNPs showing a particularly strong effect on chlorophyll content and oxidative stress markers. These findings highlight the potential of SA and AgNPs as effective treatments for salt stress, suggesting further research across different crops and environments.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Cluster analysis; Ionic imbalances; Photosynthetic pigments; Salinity effects.

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