Maize seed coatings and seedling sprayings with chitosan and hydrogen peroxide: their influence on some phenological and biochemical behaviors

Abstract

Abstract:Objective: To evaluate the effect of chitosan (CH) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) seed coatings and seedling sprinklings on two different maize varieties by measuring their phenology, the H 2 O 2 presence, the catalase (CAT) activity, and the protein quantity. Methods: Seven groups of ten seeds for each maize variety were treated with CH (2% (20 g/L) and 0.2% (2 g/L)) or H 2 O 2 (8 mmol/L) by coating, sprinkling, or both. Germination and seedling growth were measured. One month after germination, the presence of H 2 O 2 in seedlings in the coated seed treatments was evaluated. Protein content and CAT activity were determined under all treatments. Results: H 2 O 2 seed coating enhanced the germination rate and increased seedling and stem length in the quality protein maize (QPM) variety. Seedlings had a higher emergence velocity under this treatment in both varieties. CH and H 2 O 2 sprinklings did not have an effect on seedling phenology. Exogenous application of H 2 O 2 promoted an increase of endogenous H 2 O 2 . CH and H 2 O 2 seedling sprinkling increased the protein content in both maize varieties, while there was no significant effect on the CAT activity of treated seeds and seedlings. Conclusions: CH and H 2 O 2 enhance some phenological and biochemical features of maize depending on their method of application.

Chitosan nanoparticles having higher degree of acetylation induce resistance against pearl millet downy mildew through nitric oxide generation

“…Therefore, this concentration and time of treatment was used for all further studies. Chitosan is known to quickly penetrate the seed coats and teguments and positively influences the cellular metabolism at the seed development stages 14 resulting in enhancing the seed growth parameters like the seed germination, seedling vigor, shoot and root length and also increased biomass 15 . Similar results have been reported in maize, rice, wheat and millet crops wherein chitosan treatment stimulated the seed germination and seedling vigor significantly over the control 16 – 19 .…”

Chitosan in Agriculture: A New Challenge for Managing Plant Disease

“…It provides protection during the critical stage of germination and the very first seedling development, when seeds and seedlings are unable to protect themselves from invasive pathogens [51]. The substance applied to the seeds can be of various nature such as chemical pesticides, biochemical substance, natural compounds [8,52], and there are many different techniques that can be used for this purpose. Among them, seed coating and dressing represent a common procedure of seed treatment applied for preventing diseases and pests [53,54] other than improving the seedling performances, i.e.…”

“…Among them, seed coating and dressing represent a common procedure of seed treatment applied for preventing diseases and pests [53,54] other than improving the seedling performances, i.e. the seedling emergence time, synchronized emergence, improve germination percentage, emergence rate and yield in many field crops [52,[55][56][57].…”

“…The major effects produced by the seed/chitosan interaction can be summarize as follows: (a) the seeds germination index is enhanced, (b) the mean germination time and flowering time are reduced; (c) plant growth (e.g. shoot height, root length, and seedling, vegetative growth vigour) and biomass are increased [52]. In maize [69], rice [70] and wheat [71], the chitosan seed treatment increased the germination percentage and stress tolerance, and improved the vigour of the seedlings.…”

Nitric oxide induced by polyamines involves antioxidant systems against chilling stress in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedling

“…H 2 O 2 plays a dual role in plants: at low concentrations, it serves as a signal molecule, playing a pivotal role in signal transduction network under various stress conditions (Tanou et al, 2009;Jiang et al, 2012;Lizárraga-Paulín et al, 2013); …”