Improving salt tolerance of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with hydrogen sulfide

The current study examined the H₂S applications on growth, biochemical and physiological parameters of bean seedlings under saline conditions. The findings of the study indicated that salt stress decreased plant growth and development, photosynthetic activity, and mineral and hormone content [excluding abscisic acid (ABA)] in bean seedlings. Plant and root fresh mass and dry mass with H₂S applications increased as compared to the control treatment at the same salinity level. Both salinity and H₂S treatments significantly affected the net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂ content of bean seedlings. Significant increases occurred in H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, sucrose content, enzyme activity, and ABA content with salt stress. However, H₂S applications inhibited the effects of salinity on plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and mineral content in beans. H₂S applications reduced H₂O₂, MDA, proline, sucrose content, enzyme activity, and ABA content in beans. As a result, exogenous H₂S applications could mitigate the negative impacts of salinity in beans.