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Ascorbic acid as attenuator of salt stress effects on the morphophysiology of guava in the post-grafting phase

J. Ferreira,Reynaldo Teodoro de Fátima,Geovani Soares de Lima,Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares,J. S. Nóbrega,Paulo Vinícius de Oliveira Freire,Maíla Vieira Dantas,C. N. Lacerda,Flávia de S. Almeida,I. A. Roque,H. Gheyi,Saulo Soares da Silva

Published 2025 in Arid land research and Management (Print)

ABSTRACT

Abstract Guava cultivation in the Brazilian semi-arid region is constrained by the scarcity of high-quality water, which necessitates the use of saline water for irrigation. In this context, the application of antioxidant substances, such as ascorbic acid (AsA), has emerged as a promising strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of salt stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar AsA application on the morphophysiology of guava plants in the post-grafting phase when irrigated with saline water. The experiment tested five levels of water electrical conductivity—ECw (0.9, 1.5, 2.1, 2.7, and 3.3 dS m−1) and four concentrations of AsA (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg L−1). Salt stress, induced by water with conductivity from 0.9 dS m−1 onwards, adversely affected gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, and growth parameters of the guava plants. Conversely, foliar application of AsA demonstrated beneficial effects both as an isolated factor—improving relative water content and the CO2 assimilation rate—and through its interaction with salinity. The importance of this mitigating action was particularly evidenced by the significant interaction in attenuating chlorophyll a degradation and, most notably, in promoting vegetative vigor, even in plants subjected to the highest level of salt stress (3.3 dS m−1), at 150 days after transplanting. The 600 mg L−1 dosage of ascorbic acid (AsA) proved to be the most effective. The results indicate that foliar AsA application is a promising tool for managing salt stress, as it contributes to improving the physiology and growth of guava trees.

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