Uso do ácido salicílico como indutor da aclimatação ao déficit hídrico em genótipos de Phaseolus lunatus L. (Fabaceae)

Abstract

The fava bean (P. lunatus L.) occurs in all regions with high expressiveness in Brazil, it is the second most important leguminous in terms of agroeconomic terms of the Phaseolus genus, due to its robustness with prolonged harvests during hot and dry periods along the year, second only to P. vulgaris (common bean). Plants respond to drought in order to acclimate to such conditions through physiological and biochemical adjustments to survive stressful situations. In this perspective, this study aims to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (AS) on the acclimatization of three genotypes of fava beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.) in conditions of water deficit, regarding physiological and biochemical responses. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC), composed of the triple factorial scheme: 3 (genotypes of fava beans) x 2 (levels of AS, 1.0 mM presence and absence) x 3 (water availability conditions), totaling 18 treatments with 8 repetitions per treatment. It was found that the genotypes responded in different ways to the treatments of water availability and AS. Salicylic acid acted as an elicitor, especially in the ‘Orelha de Vó’’ genotype, minimizing the effects of water stress in most of the biometric, physiological and biochemical parameters evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) also showed that plants that received AS showed greater acclimation to the moderate deficit. Therefore, the adoption of the application of 1.0mM of AS, can contribute to the cultivation of Phaseolus lunatus in conditions of water restriction.