PJB-2019-426
SEED PRIMING WITH MELATONIN IMPROVES SEED GERMINATION OF WAXY MAIZE UNDER CHILLING STRESS VIA PROMOTING ANTIOXIDANT SYSTERM AND STARCH METABOLISM
QINGJUN CAO
Abstract
Chilling stress is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting waxy maize plant growth. Melatonin is able to improve tolerance to abiotic stress in plants. To investigate the effects of seed priming with Melatonin (MT) on tolerance to chilling stress in waxy maize, the seed germination characteristics and physiological parameters were tested with varied MT concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1mM) and treatment time (12, 24h) at chilling temperature (13 °C). MT primed seeds (0.05 and 0.1mM) significantly enhanced the germination potential (by 20.29% and 50.71%, respectively), germination rate (by 20.88% and 33.72), increased the radicle length (by 90.73% and 217.14%), hypocotyl length (by 60.28% and 136.14%), root length (by 74.59% and 108.70%), and seed vigor index (46.13%, 63.81%), compared with the non-priming seeds under chilling stress. No significant difference was found in priming time between primed and non-primed seeds. In addition, lower H2O2 and MDA concentrations, increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT and APX), and promoted starch metabolism were found in primed seeds as compared to non-treated ones. It was suggested that seed priming with MT improved waxy maize seed germination under chilling stress through improving antioxidant system and starch metabolism, which protected from oxidative damage.
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