Priming seed with salicylic acid increases grain yield and modifies polyamine levels in maize

Abstract

The application of naturally occurring biologically active compounds could be an effective method to improve crop productivity under changing environmental conditions. In the present work the effects of priming maize seed with salicylic acid were tested on the grain yield under field conditions, and on the salicylic acid and polyamine metabolism under controlled environmental conditions. The field data suggested that the beneficial effects of pretreating maize seed with salicylic acid were mainly detectable in the yield in the case of early sowing dates. When young maize seedlings were exposed to low temperature stress, priming the seed with salicylic acid only modified the salicylic acid levels in the seed but not in the roots or leaves. The data suggested that salicylic acid was taken up by the seed and was then converted to bound forms. In contrast to salicylic acid, 5 days after sowing there was a substantial increase in the free form of ortho-hydroxy cinnamic acid in the seed, roots and leaves. Priming with salicylic acid also led to an increase in the putrescine content and a slight decrease in spermidine in the seed. The levels of putrescine, spermidine and spermine also increased in the roots of plants treated with salicylic acid under normal growth conditions. The results suggest that polyamines may also contribute to the stress tolerance of plants primed with salicylic acid.

In-situ localization and biochemical analysis of bio-molecules reveals Pb-stress amelioration in Brassica juncea L. by co-application of 24-Epibrassinolide and Salicylic Acid

“…It was further suggested that synergistic interplay between BRs and polyamines (spermidine) led to enhancement in levels of other polyamines such as putrecine and spermine. Similarly, exogenous application of SA resulted in higher level of polyamines in Zea mays 124 and Lycopersicon esculentum 125 .…”

The effects of putrescine are partly overlapping with osmotic stress processes in wheat

“…Involvement of PAs in plant responses to environmental stimuli has been demonstrated by several studies. The protective effects of elevated endogenous level (either due to exogenous PA treatment or to transgenic modification) have been reported in several plant species under various stress conditions [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Besides their direct protective role PAs regulate fundamental cellular processes as signalling molecules, suggesting that abiotic stress tolerance is mainly influenced via signalling processes rather than by their accumulation [12].…”

Interaction between elevated temperature and different types of Na-salicylate treatment in Brachypodium dystachion

“…Other studies have also shown that SA may have a positive effect on plant growth, especially when applied as seed soaking agent [33]. In some cases the positive effects of seed pre-treatment were manifested as higher grain yields, as shown for maize plants [12]. It should also be mentioned that the positive and negative effects of SA treatment depend not only on the concentration and/or mode of application but also on other environmental factors.…”

“…Exogenously applied SA can also be effectively used to improve the stress tolerance of various plant species. SA has been applied in different ways, for example by spraying the leaves, irrigating the plants with SA [6][7][8], or soaking seeds in SA solution before sowing [9][10][11][12]. The transport of endogenous SA has been characterised at several levels, such as in short-and long-distance transport processes [13], although changes in various biochemical and physiological stress acclimation processes have been described in SAtreated plants, the uptake mechanism, mode of action and further fate of exogenously applied SA is still not fully understood.…”