PJB-2022-332
Growth promoters modulate the antioxidant system to mitigate water stress in quinoa
Azra Yasmeen and Muhammad Imran
Abstract
The abrupt climatic changes leading to reduce water availability create serious threat for successful cultivation of profitable nontraditional quinoa crop. Therefore, a field investigation was planned to reduce the drought-induced losses to quinoa with the use of growth promoters i.e., moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) leaf extract (MLE30) and proline applied through seed and/or plant foliage individually or in combination including untreated control. Quinoa plants exposed to water stress (only pre-soaking irrigation + rainfall) at vegetative and reproductive stage. Results showed that water stress adversely affected the growth and yield contributing attributes that ultimately reduced the quinoa productivity. It was observed that application of growth promoters improved the growth and productivity even under water stress conditions. However, MLE30 seed priming + foliar spray exerted more impact on studied attributes than proline. Application of MLE30 improved the growth and yield contributing parameters and produced significantly higher chlorophyll contents, proline content, ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase that modulate the adverse effects of water stress leading to higher quinoa seed yield under water stress conditions. These consequences suggest that application of MLE30 enhanced water stress tolerance in quinoa plants by improving the antioxidant system.
To Cite this article:
Yasmeen, A. and M. Imran. 2024. Growth promoters modulate the antioxidant system to mitigate water stress in quinoa. Pak. J. Bot., 56(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2024-3(17)
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