Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize Induced by Seed Priming with Salicylic Acid

Abstract

The optimum temperature for maize germination is between 25 and 28 °C. Poor and erratic germination at suboptimal temperature is the most important hindrance in its early sowing. This study was conducted to induce chilling tolerance in hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) by seed priming with salicylic acid (SA) and to unravel the background biochemical basis. For seed priming, maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 ppm (mg l−1) aerated solutions of SA for 24 h and were dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Performance of maize seedlings was hampered under chilling stress. But seed priming with SA improved the seedling emergence, root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weights, and leaf and root score considerably compared with control both at optimal and chilling temperatures. However, priming in 50 mg l−1 SA solution was more effective, followed by priming in 100 mg l−1 SA solution. Seed priming with SA improved the chilling tolerance in hybrid maize mainly by the activation of antioxidants (including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase). Moreover, maintenance of high tissue water contents and reduced membrane permeability also contributed towards chilling tolerance.

Exogenous salicylic acid alleviates cold damage by regulating antioxidative system in two barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) cultivars

“…However, certain research studies reported reduced CAT activity in plants exposed to low temperatures and bright light due to photo-inactivation of CAT (Feierabend et al 1992). In addition, it is concluded that exposure to cold temperatures causes an increase in CAT activity (Farooq et al 2008), which supports our results. Finally, Farooq et al (2008) suggested that the higher CAT activity in leaves under cold stress the more efficient the scavenging system is, which may result in better protection against ROS during stress.…”

“…In addition, it is concluded that exposure to cold temperatures causes an increase in CAT activity (Farooq et al 2008), which supports our results. Finally, Farooq et al (2008) suggested that the higher CAT activity in leaves under cold stress the more efficient the scavenging system is, which may result in better protection against ROS during stress. At the SA + cold-treated barley plants, the CAT activity was increased by SA at 17 and 24 days while only slightly reduced on day 31 in the coldtolerant cultivar and the CAT activity was reduced by SA at 10, 17 and 24 days in the cold-sensitive cultivar (Figure 4).…”

Growth and physiological trait variation among corn hybrids for cold tolerance

“…The intensity of damage is widely used as a measure of tolerance to temperature and other stresses in plants. Therefore, this trait has been successfully used to screen corn hybrids for chilling tolerance (Lukatkin 2003;Farooq et al 2008). In the current study, the cell membrane thermostability expressed as relative injury ranged between 5% (D57VP75) and 8% (SYN68B3111) at low temperature with little variation (Fig.…”

Efficacy of seed priming techniques on performance of maize hybrids in Multan

“…Harris et al, (1999) soaked the maize seeds for 8 hrs in distilled water and in 200ppm of NaCl, KCl, and CaCl 2 to alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on maize at germination stage and found that CaCl 2 proved to be more effective, showing higher germination per cent, rate of germination and fresh and dry weights of plumules and radicles than those primed with other salts and distilled water. Seed priming with salicylic acid increased germination under low temperature condition (Sedghi et al, 2010) and improved chilling tolerance faster, synchronous emergence of maize by activation of antioxidants, maintenance of tissue water contents and reduced membrane permeability (Farooq et al, 2008). Seed priming with ascorbic acid (Athar et al, 2008), H 2 O 2 (Wahid et al, 2007) and salicylic acid induced salinity tolerance (Gautam and Singh, 2009).…”