Effect of Some Herbicides on the Total Seed Proteins Patterns of Maize and Sorghum Using Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE)

Abstract

Although herbicides are important in controlling weeds in corn and sorghum and increasing their yields, some of these chemicals have severe side effects on the environmental components. These negative effects may be extended to crop seed quality. This investigation was carried out with maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in summer season of 2021 to study the effect of the recommended rate of the following herbicides: (carfentrazon 1.5% + florasulam 0.5% + flurxypyr-methyl 14%), (carfentrazon 1.5% + florasulam 0.5% + flurxypyr-meptyl 14% + halosulfuron-methyl 75%), (tribenuron-methyl 16% + carfentrazon ethyl 12%), (tribenuron methyl 16% + carfentrazon ethyl 12% + halosulfuron-methyl 75%), (bromoxynil 20% + MCPA sodium 20%), (bromoxynil 20% + MCPA sodium 20% + halosulfuron-methyl 75%), (halosulfuron-methyl 75%), (nicosulfuron 6%), nicosulfuron 6% + halosulfuron-methyl 75%), (foramsulfuron 2.25%), foramsulfuron 2.25% + halosulfuron-methyl 75%), comparing with the hand hoeing and the control on the seed proteins of commercial cultivars under Assiut field conditions. Results showed that all tested treatments gave different significant increases or decreases in seed protein profiles using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Data obtained showed that the bands with different molecular weights (KDa) of Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor seeds might be related to the mode of action of herbicides used to control associated weeds in these crops. The present results suggested the possibility of applying (SDS-PAGE) as supportive method to determine the sub-lethal effects of herbicides on total protein in sorghum and maize seeds.