Improving salt tolerance of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with hydrogen sulfide

The current study examined the H2S applications on growth, biochemical and physiological parameters of bean seedlings under saline conditions. The findings of the study indicated that salt stress decreased plant growth and development, photosynthetic activity, and mineral and hormone content [excluding abscisic acid (ABA)] in bean seedlings. Plant and root fresh mass and dry mass with H2S applications increased as compared to the control treatment at the same salinity level. Both salinity and H2S treatments significantly affected the net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 content of bean seedlings. Significant increases occurred in H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, sucrose content, enzyme activity, and ABA content with salt stress. However, H2S applications inhibited the effects of salinity on plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and mineral content in beans. H2S applications reduced H2O2, MDA, proline, sucrose content, enzyme activity, and ABA content in beans. As a result, exogenous H2S applications could mitigate the negative impacts of salinity in beans.

Keywords: bean; hormone; physiology; plant growth; salinity