<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Plant biostimulants have been used to reduce the damage caused by different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Iodine (I) is a non-essential element in plants. Still, it is considered beneficial and a biostimulant, since exogenous application can enhance the redox metabolism, which improves antioxidants, synergies with essential minerals and increases tolerance to adverse factors. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of iodine; so, it is advantageous to undertake research that elucidates the impact of this element on plant physiology, which is expected to encourage the productive agricultural sector to use this element with additional biofortification benefit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of foliar KIO<sub>3</sub> applications every 15 days at 100 μM, on growth, mineral content and antioxidants in tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions subjected to salinity stress (100 mM NaCl). The results showed that iodine did not mitigate the adverse impact of salinity on fresh or dry biomass but increased fruit production by 23%. A greater amount of N and Fe was also found in the leaves but not in the fruits; the same happened with the iodine concentration, which was high in the leaves of the treated plants but not in tomato fruits. The content of Ca and Mg in fruits was decreased in plants treated with iodine, as well as the activity of the GPX, lycopene and the antioxidant potential. None of the fruit quality variables were affected by salinity with or without application of iodine.</p>
</abstract>

Plant biostimulants have been used to reduce the damage caused by different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Iodine (I) is a non-essential element in plants. Still, it is considered beneficial and a biostimulant, since exogenous application can enhance the redox metabolism, which improves antioxidants, synergies with essential minerals and increases tolerance to adverse factors. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of iodine; so, it is advantageous to undertake research that elucidates the impact of this element on plant physiology, which is expected to encourage the productive agricultural sector to use this element with additional biofortification benefit. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of foliar KIO3 applications every 15 days at 100 μM, on growth, mineral content and antioxidants in tomato plants grown under greenhouse conditions subjected to salinity stress (100 mM NaCl). The results showed that iodine did not mitigate the adverse impact of salinity on fresh or dry biomass but increased fruit production by 23%. A greater amount of N and Fe was also found in the leaves but not in the fruits; the same happened with the iodine concentration, which was high in the leaves of the treated plants but not in tomato fruits. The content of Ca and Mg in fruits was decreased in plants treated with iodine, as well as the activity of the GPX, lycopene and the antioxidant potential. None of the fruit quality variables were affected by salinity with or without application of iodine.

Outcomes of foliar iodine application on growth, minerals and antioxidants in tomato plants under salt stress

Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Plant biostimulants have been used to reduce the damage caused by different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Iodine (I) is a non-essential element in...

Outcomes of foliar iodine application on growth, minerals and antioxidants in tomato plants under salt stress

Article Category: Original Article

Publicado en línea: 27 feb 2022

Páginas: 27 - 37

Recibido: 26 nov 2021

Aceptado: 24 ene 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2022-0003

Palabras clave
biostimulants, greenhouse, nutraceutical, redox metabolism, salt tolerance, soilless

© 2022 José E. García Fuentes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Outcomes of foliar iodine application on growth, minerals and antioxidants in tomato plants under salt stress

Article Category: Original Article

Publicado en línea: 27 feb 2022

Páginas: 27 - 37

Recibido: 26 nov 2021

Aceptado: 24 ene 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2022-0003

Palabras clavebiostimulants, greenhouse, nutraceutical, redox metabolism, salt tolerance, soilless

© 2022 José E. García Fuentes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
biostimulants, greenhouse, nutraceutical, redox metabolism, salt tolerance, soilless