Key message

Exogenous 6-BA can increase endogenous hormone content, improve photosynthesis, decrease Na⁺ by increasing leaf salt gland density and salt secretion ability, and reduce ROS content so that it can promote L. bicolor growth.

Abstract

6-benzyl adenine (6-BA) is an artificial cytokinin and has been widely applied to improving plant adaptation to stress. However, it is rarely reported that 6-BA alleviates salt damage of halophytes. In this paper, we treated Limonium bicolor seedlings, a recretohalophyte with high medicinal and ornamental values, with 300 mM NaCl and different concentrations of 6-BA (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/L) and measured plant growth, physiological index, the density of salt gland, and the salt secretion ability of leaves. The results showed that exogenous applications 1.0 mg/L 6-BA significantly improved plant growth and photosynthesis, increased cytokinin and auxins contents, K⁺ and organic soluble matter contents, the activities of SOD, CAT, APX, and POD, and decreased Na⁺, H₂O₂, and O₂⁻ contents compared to that treated with 300 mM NaCl. Further research showed that exogenous 6-BA significantly increased the density of salt gland and the salt secretion ability of leaves by upregulating the expression of the salt gland developmental genes, therefore, can secrete more excess Na⁺, and thus reduces the Na⁺ concentration in leaves, which can alleviate Na⁺ damage to the species. In all, exogenous 1.0 mg/L 6-BA can increase endogenous hormone, improve photosynthesis, decrease Na⁺ by increasing secretion ability, and reduce ROS content of L. bicolor so that it can improve the growth. These results above systematically prove the new role of 6-BA in salt tolerance of L. bicolor.

Graphical abstract