Possibilities to reduce adverse effects of salinity by indole-3-acetic acid

Salinity caused a consistent reduction in the growth of cowpea plants and water content in their leaves. The total as well as the pigment fractions, except carotenoids, exhibited lower values than those of control plants at almost all salinity levels. With the rise of salinization, the total nitrogen and potassium contents in the leaves were decreased but the sodium content was increased and phosphorus content was not significantly affected as compared with the controls. The application of IAA to salt-treated plants increased the water content in the leaves but it had no effect on the number of leaves and the stem length. The pigment contents in the leaves were either promoted or inhibited with the application of IAA, depending upon the level of salinization. The application of IAA to plants irrigated with water of the highest salinity level was effective in increasing the potassium content in the leaves as compared with the control, but it had no effect on the other mineral elements.