Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation

Some environmental aspects of salicylic acid

Myroslava Kobyletska, Olena Demyanyuk, Olena Naumovska
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Abstract

Salicylic acid is an environmentally safe growth regulator with multifunctional properties, which has great prospects in agricultural practice, as it was effective at low concentrations and has natural catabolic pathways. The aim of the study was to determine the participation of salicylic acid in the interactions of plant organisms with other biotic components of ecosystems and to reveal the prospects for its use in crop production and for the development of environmentally safe agricultural technologies. To achieve this goal, scientific sources were searched, analysed, systematised and compared using leading scientific databases and methods of logical generalisation. It was established that plants, leading a sessile lifestyle, are constantly exposed to biotic stresses, primarily phytopathogens and herbivorous organisms. In response, they have formed a defence system that includes passive barriers and active immune responses at the cellular and molecular levels. At the centre of these processes are phytohormones, among which salicylic acid is of key importance. It has been found that salicylic acid was one of the main signalling molecules that coordinates the expression of genes associated with plant defence, induces the synthesis of secondary metabolites, contributes to the strengthening of cell walls and activates the mechanisms of systemic acquired resistance. Particular attention was paid to the interaction of salicylic acid with other phytohormones, in particular jasmonic acid, ethylene, abscisic acid and auxin, which together form a complex signalling network that provides an integrated and effective immune response. A separate section was devoted to the participation of salicylic acid in symbiotic interactions between plants and beneficial microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, which enhance the host's resistance to pathogens. The practical aspect of using salicylic acid in agriculture as an environmentally safe means of enhancing the immunity of cultivated plants through exogenous application or stimulation of endogenous synthesis was also considered. The conclusions drawn are important both for understanding the fundamental principles of plant immunity and for the practical application of biotechnology in protecting plants from pests and diseases

Keywords

growth regulators; biotic stress factors; abiotic stress factors; phytopathogens; phytohormones

Suggested citation
Kobyletska, M., Demyanyuk, O., & Naumovska, O. (2025). Some environmental aspects of salicylic acid. Biological Systems: Theory and Innovation, 16(2), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.31548/biologiya/2.2025.37
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