Application of Exogenous Protectants Mitigates Salt-Induced Na(+) Toxicity and Sustains Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Seedling Growth: Comparison of Glycine Betaine and Salicylic Acid

Soil salinization adversely affects agricultural productivity. Mitigating the adverse effects of salinity represents a current major challenge for agricultural researchers worldwide. The effects of exogenously applied glycine betaine (GB) and salicylic acid (SA) on mitigating sodium toxicity and improving the growth of cotton seedlings subjected to salt stress remain unclear. The treatments in a phytotron included a control (CK, exogenously untreated, non-saline), two NaCl conditions (0 and 150 mM), four exogenous GB concentrations (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mM), and four exogenous SA concentrations (0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mM). The shoot and roots exposed to 150 mM NaCl without supplementation had significantly higher Na(+) and reduced K(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+) contents, along with lowered biomass, compared with those of CK. Under NaCl stress, exogenous GB and SA at all concentrations substantially inversed these trends by improving ion uptake regulation and biomass accumulation compared with NaCl stress alone. Supplementation with 5.0 mM GB and with 1.0 mM SA under NaCl stress were the most effective conditions for mitigating Na(+) toxicity and enhancing biomass accumulation. NaCl stress had a negative effect on plant growth parameters, including plant height, leaf area, leaf water potential, and total nitrogen (N) in the shoot and roots, which were improved by supplementation with 5.0 mM GB or 1.0 mM SA. Supplementation with 5.0 mM exogenous GB was more effective in controlling the percentage loss of conductivity (PLC) under NaCl stress.