Effect of Sulphur on Plant Growth and Defense System

Several environmental factors adversely affect plant growth, development and yield performance of crop. More than 900 million hectares of land world-wide, approx. 20 % of the total agricultural land, are affected by salinity Osmotic stress induced by soil salinity affects plant growth and development. Salinity alters general metabolic processes and enzymatic activities, causing increased production of reactive oxygen species. In some plants increased resistance to a biotic stresses has been achieved by exogenous application of various organic solutes. This approach significantly contributes to increased crop production in stress environments. Sulfur(S) is an integral part of several important compounds such as Sulphur containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine), glutathione or ferredoxin, vitamins, co-enzymes, phytohormones and reduced sulfur compounds that decipher growth and vigor of plants under optimal and stress conditions. Therefore, the given research was planned to find out the magnitude of salinity effects and cicer plant tolerance to applied salinity and its response to sulfur addition.

Assistant Professor in department of Botany, Gold Medalist in M.Sc Botany (Plant Physiology) Jinnah University For Women, Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan.FAIZA NAZ. BS Final Year Student, Jinnah University For Women, Karachi, Pakistan.