Abstract
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that affects physiological and biochemical processes in plants, reducing the growth, yield, and quality of crops. This problem has been intensified with the reduction of the cultivated area. This study evaluated the response of hydroponically grown tomato plants under salt stress to foliar applications of E. arvense extracts. Macro- and micronutrients, as well as silicon and phenolic compounds, were extracted using magnetic stirring and water reflux methods, the latter being the most effective. To evaluate the efficacy of E. arvense extracts, spraying was applied at two different doses: EQ-R-1 (23.6 mg·L(-1) Si and 0.5 mM phenolic compounds) and EQ-R-2 (5.9 mg·L(-1) Si and 0.125 mM phenolic compounds). Foliar application of both extracts alleviated salinity effects by reducing sodium uptake. E. arvense extracts mitigated oxidative stress by a decrease in electrolyte leakage by 29% and malondialdehyde and H(2)O(2) concentrations by 69% and 39%, respectively, for the extract with the lowest dose. In addition, EQ-R-2 was also more effective by reducing 51.5% proline accumulation. These findings showed the potential use of E. arvense extracts as biostimulants to enhance plant tolerance to salinity providing new perspectives in agricultural systems.