Foliar Supplementation of Clove Fruit Extract and Salicylic Acid Maintains the Performance and Antioxidant Defense System of Solanum tuberosum L. under Deficient Irrigation Regimes

Abstract

A field trial was conducted twice (in 2020 and 2021) to evaluate the effect of clove fruit extract (CFE) and/or salicylic acid (SA), which were used as a foliar nourishment, on growth and yield traits, as well as physiological and biochemical indices utilizing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants irrigated with deficient regimes in an arid environment. Three drip irrigation regimes [e.g., well watering (7400 m3 ha−1), moderate drought (6200 m3 ha−1), and severe drought (5000 m3 ha−1)] were designed for this study. The tested growth, yield, and photosynthetic traits, along with the relative water content, were negatively affected, whereas markers of oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide), electrolyte leakage, and peroxidation of membrane lipids (assessed as malondialdehyde level) were augmented along with increased antioxidative defense activities under drought stress. These effects were gradually increased with the gradual reduction in the irrigation regime. However, under drought stress, CFE and/or SA significantly enhanced growth characteristics (fresh and dry weight of plant shoot and plant leaf area) and yield components (average tuber weight, number of plant tubers, and total tuber yield). In addition, photosynthetic attributes (chlorophylls and carotenoids contents, net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance) were also improved, and defensive antioxidant components (glutathione, free proline, ascorbate, soluble sugars, and α-tocopherol levels, and activities of glutathione reductase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) were further enhanced. The study findings advocate the idea of using a CFE + SA combined treatment, which was largely efficient in ameliorating potato plant growth and productivity by attenuating the limiting influences of drought stress in dry environments.

Enhancement of drought tolerance in diverse Vicia faba cultivars by inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria under newly reclaimed soil conditions

“…Inoculation with R. leguminosarum and P. putida was associated with increased proline and soluble sugar contents in inoculated plants compared with those in non-inoculated plants. These osmoprotectants alleviated oxidative stress and boosted plant tolerance through diminishing ROS detoxification induced by drought stress, which conserved metabolic functions and enhanced physiological activities 38 , 39 . Furthermore, increased osmolyte accumulation reduced the cellular osmotic potential, which provided adequate water absorption from the soil, which in turn boosted cell turgor pressure, maintained the cell water status, and preserved the membranes even under severe drought stress 40 , 41 .…”

Soaking Maize Seeds in Zeatin-Type Cytokinin Biostimulators Improves Salt Tolerance by Enhancing the Antioxidant System and Photosynthetic Efficiency

“…The application of biostimulants in agriculture to increase crop yields under stressful conditions has received attention recently [24][25][26][27]. Cis-zeatin-type cytokinins (c-Z-Ck) are a type of cytokinin (CK) that has received less attention than trans-zeatin (t-Z-Ck) isomers or other highly active CKs.…”

Interplay of silymarin and clove fruit extract effectively enhances cadmium stress tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

“…As a result of its diverse composition, CFE was proposed as a plant biostimulator. The enhanced mobilization of inorganic metabolites solutes like ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), K, and Ca present in CFE (Table 1) to the growing plumule and/or the increase in amylase activity and reducing sugars, contributing to early vigor and increased plant growth, may explain the improved plant growth traits (i.e., area of leaves per plant, dry weight, and shoot fresh) caused by CFE application (Afzal et al, 2012;Desoky et al, 2021b). Also, the phenolic component is critical to decline the damaging effects of drought stress in the plant (Naikoo et al, 2019).…”

“…Rady and Mohamed (2015) and Desoky et al (2020b) reported that plant extracts significantly improve plant growth and productivity. Lately, Desoky et al (2021b) have considered clove (Syzygium aromaticum) fruit extract (CFE) as one of these extracts. However, till now, scientists have not conducted any studies on using CFE as a bioactive stimulant to enhance plants' tolerance to Cd stress.…”