Impact of Foliar Application of Chitosan Dissolved in Different Organic Acids on Isozymes, Protein Patterns and Physio-Biochemical Characteristics of Tomato Grown under Salinity Stress

Abstract

In this study, the anti-stress capabilities of the foliar application of chitosan, dissolved in four different organic acids (acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid and malic acid) have been investigated on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants under salinity stress (100 mM NaCl). Morphological traits, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, secondary metabolites, oxidative stress, minerals, antioxidant enzymes activity, isozymes and protein patterns were tested for potential tolerance of tomato plants growing under salinity stress. Salinity stress was caused a reduction in growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, soluble proteins and potassium (K+) content. However, the contents of proline, ascorbic acid, total phenol, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sodium (Na+) and antioxidant enzyme activity were increased in tomato plants grown under saline conditions. Chitosan treatments in any of the non-stressed plants showed improvements in morphological traits, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, total phenol and antioxidant enzymes activity. Besides, the harmful impacts of salinity on tomato plants have also been reduced by lowering MDA, H2O2 and Na+ levels. Chitosan treatments in either non-stressed or stressed plants showed different responses in number and density of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) isozymes. NaCl stress led to the diminishing of protein bands with different molecular weights, while they were produced again in response to chitosan foliar application. These responses were varied according to the type of solvent acid. It could be suggested that foliar application of chitosan, especially that dissolved in ascorbic or citric acid, could be commercially used for the stimulation of tomato plants grown under salinity stress.

Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Defense in Plants under Salinity

“…Hycorn-11, respectively, which are two Z. mays cultivars, at 160 mM NaCl stress and concluded that the P1574 cultivar is more salt-tolerant than the Hycorn-11 cultivar. Similarly, upon exposure to 100 mM NaCl, total phenols (by 60%) and AsA (by 55%) were increased in S. lycopersicum plants together with enhanced SOD, CAT, POD and PPO activities [130]. Jiang et al [131] highlighted the TaSOS1 gene in response to salt stress in two spring T. aestivum genotypes, Seri M82 (salt-sensitive) and CIGM90.863 (salt-tolerant), and observed a higher expression of most of the 18 TaSOS1 genes in the roots of salt-tolerant seedlings than the salt-sensitive seedlings.…”

Influence of Glycine Betaine (Natural and Synthetic) on Growth, Metabolism and Yield Production of Drought-Stressed Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants

“…Plant biostimulants include diverse substances that enhance plant growth through the stimulation of natural processes such as nutrient uptake efficiency, and tolerance to abiotic stress conditions [25,26]. It has been reported that the application of natural biostimulants, such as plant extracts enriched with key biostimulants, can improve plant growth under stress conditions more than that by synthetic chemicals [27,28].…”

Smart nanomaterial and nanocomposite with advanced agrochemical activities

“…To cope with drought tolerance, several reports published in past decades on the application of NPs such as TiO 2 application in Linum usitatissimum via elevating pigmentation and reducing the activity of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) [ 119 ], ZnO promotes effective seed germination in Glycine max [ 120 ], CuNPs improve pigmentation, biomass and grain yield in Z. mays [ 121 ]. In case of salinity stress, seed soaking, nutrient solutions, and seed priming methods are used for evaluation in G. max, S. lycopersicum, and Gossypium hirsutum respectively [ 122 – 124 ].…”