Strigolactone-Mediated Mitigation of Negative Effects of Salinity Stress in Solanum lycopersicum through Reducing the Oxidative Damage

Soil salinity is one of the main barriers to increasing global food production as it reduces crop growth and productivity. While irrigated lands in arid climates (about 20% of total affected) are more prone to salinization, many other natural and anthropogenic factors contribute to an increase in salinity in arable lands that currently affects over 100 countries and more than one billion ha. Management of agro-ecosystems at every level, including soil, water, and the plant itself, is important in mitigating the effects of salinity. Plant hormones control cellular metabolism, and mediate plant defense response mechanisms against abiotic and biotic stresses. Foliar fertigation with plant growth regulators has been shown to improve growth and metabolism under stress conditions. Strigolactones (SLs) have…