Salicylic Acid Enhances Yield and Alleviates Drought-Induced Oxidative Damage in Two Carrot Cultivars with Contrasting Tolerance

The current study focused on evaluating the significance of salicylic acid (SA) on morpho-physiological and biochemical traits, including secondary metabolites in carrot (Daucus carota L.) leaves and roots under water stress. Carrot plants were exposed to water-limited conditions (60% field capacity) along with a control. An experiment was conducted in pots using two carrot cultivars, Maharani and T-29. After four weeks of seed germination, drought stress was imposed and maintained for 30 days. Both levels of SA (150 and 300 mg/L) were sprayed on carrot foliage in addition to the control (no spray). Plant samples were collected to analyze growth-related parameters after 15 days. The water deficit situation…