The present study was designed with an objective to elucidate the cumulative effect of the exogenous application of 20 mM proline and 10(-5) M of salicylic acid (SA) on the physio-morphological changes in chickpea plants exposed to 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg cadmium (Cd) per kg of soil. The exogenous application of proline and SA alleviated completely the ill effects generated by the presence of metals in soil which was expressed in terms of increased dry matter accumulation and nodulation, enhanced efficiency of nitrogen fixation, and its assimilation. The foliar spray of SA and proline resulted in an increased stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate in the Cd-stressed plants. The oxidative stress generated in plants was completely overcome by the combined application of proline (20 mM) and SA (10(-5) M) by increasing the activity of antioxidative enzymes [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] coupled with an increased accumulation of endogenous proline which was found to be maximum in the plants exposed to 100 mg Cd per kg of soil, and also sprayed with proline and SA.
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