PJB-2023-1511
Induction of chromium (Cr) stress tolerance in maize by foliar applied vanillic acid: growth, gas exchange characteristics and antioxidants
Maleeha Razzaq, Nudrat Aisha Akram, Shafaqat Ali and Muhammad Ashraf
Abstract
The effect of foliar-applied vanillic acid (VA) on biomass, photosynthesis, oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme activities and uptake of chromium (Cr) in maize plants under varying levels of Cr stress was assessed. The experiment comprised the maize cultivar Malka-2016, three levels of Cr stress (0, 100 and 500 µM), and VA (0, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/L) applied as a foliar spray. The results showed that Cr stress markedly decreased the physiological and morphological characteristics including gas exchange attributes, non-enzymatic compounds, and the activities of enzymatic antioxidants. However, foliar-applied VA significantly increased plant dry weight and improved the gas exchange attributes such as rate of transpiration, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of maize plants under stress and non-stress conditions. A positive influence of VA was also found on the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase enzymes and the levels of glycinebetaine and proline. Overall, foliar application of VA significantly enhanced Cr stress tolerance in maize plants by improving gas exchange attributes and antioxidant defense system
To Cite this article:
Razzaq, M., N.A. Akram, S. Ali and M. Ashraf. 2023. Induction of chromium (Cr) stress tolerance in maize by foliar applied vanillic acid: growth, gas exchange characteristics and antioxidants. Pak. J. Bot., 55(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-2(13)
Download
