Potential Benefits of Salicylic Acid in Food Production - Salicylic Acid: Plant Growth and Development - page 307

Such results are consistent with those reported by Echevarria-Machado et al.
( 2007 ) using transformed root bioassays of Catharantus roseus, and also with
those reported by Larqué-Saavedra et al. ( 2010 ) for Lycopersicon esculentum,
where concentrations as low as femtomolar favor root length.
The grain yield harvested in a parallel identical experiment with wheat plants
treated with SA is shown in Fig. 11 . From the pattern of this parameter, we can
appreciate that all the concentrations of SA tested increased grain yield. The
1.0 lM SA treatment was significantly different and, therefore it was most
effective with a 36.5 % increase in comparison with the control.
The result on grain yield obtained by Hernández Lopez, J.C. is consistent with
those reported by Garcia ( 1982 ), who sprayed graded concentrations of acetyl-
salicylic acid (ASA) ranging from 10 -2 to 10 -7 M on wheat plants, under
greenhouse conditions and in the field. It was noted that concentrations of SA
promoted grain production. According to Garcia, SA at a concentration of 10 -2 M,
had a toxic effect on the plants, but as the concentrations diminished, the yield
showed a corresponding increase. It is also important to mention here that the
results obtained by López et al. ( 1998 ) who reported that SA sprayed on wheat
plants under field conditions, favors the number of grains per year by 2.19 % with a
concentration of 10 -6 M, and 7.7 % with 10 -4 M, in comparison with the control.
However it must be emphasized that the publications mentioned above did not
took into account the pH which is of great importance for this kind of study that
might explain the toxic effect of SA reported by them.
4 Conclusions
1. The data referred to in the previous paragraphs gives support to the proposal
that the application of salicylic acid spray to the foliage has a significant effect
on flower production in ornamental plants, a fact which will undoubtedly have
positive economic repercussions on floriculture.
2. The data obtained with plants of horticultural importance and papaya are
consistent, in that productivity is favored, regardless of growth conditions,
which can range from humid tropics to semi-desert areas; under greenhouse
conditions or outdoor.
3. The data reported for grains are particularly encouraging, and the reproduction
of these results in commercial plantations could represent a serious alternative
to enhance food production.
Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank Silvia Vergara Y for her help in improving the
manuscript. To Prof. Raul Monforte and Raul Batiz, agribusiness producers of horticultural
products for their facilities to carry out some of the work reported in this chapter. We
acknowledge many small producers that allowed us to carry out the experiments in their land. The
work was carried out with the financial support of CONACYT and Yucatan Produce and
Campeche Produce.