Exogenous calcium boosts spinach resilience to salt stress, improving growth and health.
Exposing spinach plants to calcium ions before being stressed with salt can help them grow better. The study used different amounts of calcium chloride on spinach plants before applying salt stress. The results showed that calcium ions improved the growth of spinach under salt stress. The plants had more soluble protein, chlorophyll, and enzymes that protect them from damage. The leaves also had less damage from salt stress when treated with 30 mmol/L of calcium chloride.