Response of maize (Zea mays L.) to seed priming with NaCl and salinity stress

Abstract

Salinity is one of the biggest limitants for agriculture in semi-arid areas of the world. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of seed priming with 6 dS m–1 NaCl on growth and yield responses of two maize cultivars (Azam and Sarhad yellow) exposed to three levels of salinity (0, 6, 8 dS m–1). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that cultivars, seed priming with saline water (6 dS m–1) and subsequent exposure to salinity stress had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on germination, days to emergence, plant height, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, shoot Na+, K+, proline, abscisic acid contents and yield variables. The results suggested that increasing salinity level had a negative effect on the growth and development of both cultivars under study. Analysis of the data also revealed that maize cv Azam performed better than cv. Sarhad yellow when exposed to different levels of salinity. Priming of cv Azam with NaCl resulted in earlier emergence (2 days) and germination rate (31.92%), plant height (12%), shoot proline (950.33 μg g–1 fresh weight) and ABA levels (0.983 and 1.203 μg g–1 fresh weight) and yield (36% than the non-primed treatment). These results suggest that priming of maize seeds with NaCl before sowing induces physiological and biochemical changes, which resulted in better performance when subsequently exposed to different levels of salinity.

Genetic Diversity Analysis for Salinity Tolerance in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)] Using SSR Markers

“…These mechanisms declined plant growth and persistence (Carillo et al, 2011;Sha Filippou et al, 2014). Our investigations are supported with the previous results of other experiments (Carpici et al, 2009;Bakht et al, 2011;Hussain et al, 2014;Hoque et al, 2015;Billah et al, 2017).…”

Salt stress in maize: effects, resistance mechanisms, and management. A review

“…Nitrogen application at 120 kg ha −1 counteracted the damaging effects of salinity and notably improved growth, yield, and nitrogen uptake under salt stress (Gadalla et al 2007). In another study, nitrogen application above the recommended level for non-saline soils substantially increased Gondim et al (2010) Halopriming NaCl Earlier emergence and germination rate, plant height, yield Bakht et al (2011) Hormonal priming Ethylene Biomass Carvalho et al (2011) Halopriming NaCl Shoot dry weight and length, leaf number and area, chlorophyll Farahbakhsh and Saiid (2011) physiological traits such as leaf area index, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, and all yield components in salt-stressed maize compared with the control (Akram et al 2010c). While nitrogen nutrition is important in crop production under salt stress, the nitrogen source is also important.…”

Pré-condicionamento in vitro de plantas de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) para tolerância ao estresse salino

“…Outras gramíneas também responderam positivamente ao pré-condicionamento, como descrito para a cultivar Azam y de Zea mays, provenientes da germinação de sementes pré-condicionadas em NaCl a 6 dS m -1 . Essas plantas também apresentaram aumento significativo da matéria seca, quando comparadas com aquelas provenientes de sementes não pré-condicionadas (Bakht et al, 2011). De acordo com Levitt (1980), as plantas, em geral, não desenvolvem tolerância ao estresse a menos que sejam…”

“…O priming consiste em uma exposição prévia a um fator de estresse biótico ou abiótico com o objetivo de deixar a planta mais tolerante quando exposta a um novo ciclo de estresse (Patade et al, 2009). Essa técnica é bastante difundida em sementes (seed priming) por promover atividades pré-metabólicas, proporcionado aumento da velocidade da taxa germinativa e maior uniformidade das plântulas cultivadas sob condições adversas (Nascimento, 2004;Atreya et al, 2009;Bakht et al, 2011). A aplicação de tratamentos de priming com NaCl em rebolos de cana-de-açúcar reduziu os efeitos inibitórios da salinidade na germinação e no crescimento das plântulas, em termos de produção de matéria fresca e seca (Patade et al, 2009).…”