How does salicylic acid (SA) affect lipid peroxidation in Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) under different irrigation treatments?

Lipid peroxidation is a measure of oxidative stress in plant tissues, indicating the level of damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The study assessed the effects of different irrigation treatments and foliar application of SA on lipid peroxidation in Swiss chard.

From: "Effects of foliar application of salicylic acid on physiological and qualitative parameters in differently colored Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. cicla) under an aquaponic system", Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Volume 22, August 2025, 102140

The study found that the 50/100 treatment tended to reduce lipid peroxidation in both white and red chard, although the reduction was not statistically significant in red chard. The application of SA resulted in significant changes only in red chard irrigated with the 50F/50D and 50/100 treatments, where SA increased lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that the SA concentration used may not have been optimal for red chard, as it led to increased oxidative stress. In contrast, the 50/100 treatment without SA showed a tendency to reduce lipid peroxidation, indicating better antioxidant defense mechanisms in the plant.