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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Exogenous manganese application improves salinity stress in tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) by modulating biochemical and physiological responses
Authors
Chanchal Upadhyay, Dr. Dileep Kumar Singh
Abstract
Salinity stress is one of the most devastating environmental
constraints limiting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) productivity
worldwide. It induces osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and oxidative damage,
severely disrupting plant growth and development. Manganese (Mn) is a crucial
micronutrient involved in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and antioxidant
defence systems. This study investigates the potential role of exogenous
manganese application in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress in
tomato plants. Salinity stress was imposed using NaCl at concentrations of 0,
10, 25, 50, and 100 mM, while Mn was applied as MnCl₂·4H₂O at concentrations of
10, 20, and 50 µM. Salinity significantly reduced seed germination, plant
growth, biomass production, and photosynthetic pigment content. The highest
salinity level (100 mM NaCl) reduced germination percentage by more than 50%
and markedly decreased shoot and root development. Chlorophyll-a and
chlorophyll-b contents declined substantially with increasing salt
concentration. Salinity stress also induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by
increased H₂O₂ accumulation, proline content, and alterations in antioxidant
enzyme activities. Mn supplementation of 20 µM Mn proved most effective in
improving germination, shoot and root growth, biomass accumulation, and
chlorophyll retention under saline conditions, enhanced antioxidant defence
mechanisms and improved physiological performance, thereby reducing
salinity-induced damage. In contrast, 50 µM Mn showed comparatively lower
effectiveness, suggesting the existence of an optimum Mn concentration for
stress mitigation. The findings demonstrate that exogenous manganese
application can improve salinity tolerance in tomato by maintaining saline
conditions. Therefore, Mn supplementation may represent a practical strategy
for improving tomato productivity in salt-affected soils.
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Pages:255-260
How to cite this article:
Chanchal Upadhyay, Dr. Dileep Kumar Singh "Exogenous manganese application improves salinity stress in tomato (<i>Solanum Lycopersicum</i> L.) by modulating biochemical and physiological responses". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 255-260
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