Physiology and yield of ‘Gaúcho’ melon under brackish water and salicylic acid in hydroponic cultivation

Abstract In order to study the effect of salicylic acid concentrations on the mitigation of salt stress in melon plants grown on a hydroponic system an experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Pombal – PB, Brazil, using an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to four levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution—ECns (2.1—control, 3.2, 4.3, and 5.4 dS m−1) and four concentrations of salicylic acid—SA (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mM), with six replicates. Salicylic acid at the concentration of 3.2 mM attenuated the effect of nutrient solution salinity on the fresh weight of melon fruits. The saline nutrient solution impairs gas exchange and the relative water content and increases the intercellular electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade of melon plants. However, salicylic acid attenuates the deleterious effects of salinity and attains a maximum yield of melon fruits of 23.82 t ha−1 with foliar application of 1.5 mM at ECns of 3.1 dS m−1. Salicylic acid stimulated the synthesis of total chlorophyll, the CO2 assimilation rate, and the instantaneous water use efficiency of hydroponic melon up to a concentration of 4.5 mM. The results obtained indicate that the responses of the hydroponic melon plant grown with saline nutrient solution and the application of salicylic acid are not yet fully elucidated.