Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions
Waterlogging is one of the serious abiotic stresses that inhibits crop growth and reduces productivity. Therefore, investigating efficient waterlogging mitigation measures has both theoretical and practical significance. The objectives of the present research were to examine the efficiency of melato...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| author | Shakeel Ahmad Guo-Yun Wang Ihsan Muhammad Muhammad Zeeshan Xun-Bo Zhou |
| author_facet | Shakeel Ahmad Guo-Yun Wang Ihsan Muhammad Muhammad Zeeshan Xun-Bo Zhou |
| author_sort | Shakeel Ahmad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Waterlogging is one of the serious abiotic stresses that inhibits crop growth and reduces productivity. Therefore, investigating efficient waterlogging mitigation measures has both theoretical and practical significance. The objectives of the present research were to examine the efficiency of melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> seed soaking and foliar application on alleviating the waterlogging inhibited growth performance of maize seedlings. In this study, 100 µM melatonin and different levels (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g) of potassium nitrate (KNO<sub>3</sub>) were used in seed soaking and foliar applications. For foliar application, treatments were applied at the 7th leaf stage one week after the imposition of waterlogging stress. The results showed that melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> significantly improved the plant growth and biochemical parameters of maize seedlings under waterlogging stress conditions. However, the application of melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> treatments increased plant growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, and the net photosynthetic rate at a variable rate under waterlogging stress. Furthermore, melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> treatments significantly reduced the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and it decreased the activity of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, while increasing enzymatic activities and soluble protein content of maize seedlings under waterlogging stress conditions. Overall, our results indicated that seed soaking with 100 µM melatonin and 0.50 g KNO<sub>3</sub> was the most effective treatment that significantly improved the plant growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and enzymatic activity of maize seedling under waterlogging conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:30Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:30Z |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e72aaf119b464882a18df90fc472a8362023-11-23T13:01:11ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372022-01-011119910.3390/biology11010099Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress ConditionsShakeel Ahmad0Guo-Yun Wang1Ihsan Muhammad2Muhammad Zeeshan3Xun-Bo Zhou4Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Tillage, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Tillage, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Tillage, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Tillage, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Tillage, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, Agricultural College of Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaWaterlogging is one of the serious abiotic stresses that inhibits crop growth and reduces productivity. Therefore, investigating efficient waterlogging mitigation measures has both theoretical and practical significance. The objectives of the present research were to examine the efficiency of melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> seed soaking and foliar application on alleviating the waterlogging inhibited growth performance of maize seedlings. In this study, 100 µM melatonin and different levels (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g) of potassium nitrate (KNO<sub>3</sub>) were used in seed soaking and foliar applications. For foliar application, treatments were applied at the 7th leaf stage one week after the imposition of waterlogging stress. The results showed that melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> significantly improved the plant growth and biochemical parameters of maize seedlings under waterlogging stress conditions. However, the application of melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> treatments increased plant growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, and the net photosynthetic rate at a variable rate under waterlogging stress. Furthermore, melatonin with KNO<sub>3</sub> treatments significantly reduced the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and it decreased the activity of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, while increasing enzymatic activities and soluble protein content of maize seedlings under waterlogging stress conditions. Overall, our results indicated that seed soaking with 100 µM melatonin and 0.50 g KNO<sub>3</sub> was the most effective treatment that significantly improved the plant growth characteristics, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and enzymatic activity of maize seedling under waterlogging conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/1/99melatoninKNO<sub>3</sub>plant growthenzymesphotosynthesiswaterlogging stress |
| spellingShingle | Shakeel Ahmad Guo-Yun Wang Ihsan Muhammad Muhammad Zeeshan Xun-Bo Zhou Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions Biology melatonin KNO<sub>3</sub> plant growth enzymes photosynthesis waterlogging stress |
| title | Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions |
| title_full | Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions |
| title_short | Melatonin and KNO<sub>3</sub> Application Improves Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize Seedlings under Waterlogging Stress Conditions |
| title_sort | melatonin and kno sub 3 sub application improves growth physiological and biochemical characteristics of maize seedlings under waterlogging stress conditions |
| topic | melatonin KNO<sub>3</sub> plant growth enzymes photosynthesis waterlogging stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/1/99 |
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