Comparison of Alteration in Growth, Physiological
and Biochemical Attributes of Ten Maize
(&lt;i&gt;Zea mays&lt;/i&gt; L.) Varieties under Arsenic Stress:
Susceptibility and Tolerance

Context Arsenic (As) is a noxious metalloid for plants, animals and humans. Elevated levels of As in soils may cause it to accumulate to above-permissible levels in wheat grains, posing a threat to human health. Moreover, vulnerable population groups in developing countries have inadequate dietary zinc (Zn) linked to cereal-based diets. Aims The present study evaluated the effect of soil Zn application on accumulation of As and Zn in grains of two Zn-biofortified wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Akbar-2019 and Zincol-2016). Methods Wheat plants were grown on an alkaline calcareous soil spiked with three levels of As (0, 5 and 25 mg kg−1). Before sowing, two rates of Zn (0 and 8 mg kg−1) were also applied to the soil. Key results Arsenic spiking in soil decreased plant dry matter yield, chlorophyll pigments, and phosphorus (P) and Zn accumulation, and increased As accumulation in wheat. By contrast, soil Zn application enhanced crop yield and increased P and Zn accumulation, with a simultaneous decrease in As accumulation in both cultivars. Compared with the Zn control, soil Zn application decreased grain As concentration by 26%, 30% and 32% for plants grown in soil spiked with 0, 5 and 25 mg As kg−1, respectively. Conclusions Applying Zn to As-spiked soil mitigates the harmful effects of As by increasing Zn and decreasing As concentrations in wheat, resulting in improved grain quality for human consumption. Implications Zinc application to crop plants should be recommended for addressing the health implications associated with As-contaminated crops and human Zn deficiency.

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Thiamine and Indole-3-Acetic Acid Induced Modulations in Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Arsenic Stress

Atif

Perveen

Parveen

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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Arsenic (As) accumulation in plant tissues is an emerging threat to crop productivity and global food security. As-toxicity in soil is increasing at alarming rates through mining, pesticide applications and industrial revolution. Therefore, a novel study was conducted to disclose the role of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in maize (Zea mays L.) against different As stress levels, i.e., 0, 50 and 100 mg/kg sodium arsenite (NaAsO2). Seeds of two contrasting maize varieties Akbar and Pearl were primed with different treatments, i.e., control (non-primed seeds), thiamine (250 ppm), IAA (30 µM) and a mixture of thiamine (250 ppm) + IAA (30 µM). Of both As stress levels (50, 100 mg/kg), a higher As stress level (100 mg/kg) imparts maximum negative impacts on maize growth by decreasing shoot and root nutrient ions—potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), total phenolics, total soluble proteins—as compared to the control, while increases in catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), malondialdehyde MDA, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), proline, total soluble sugars, free amino acids and ascorbic acid were recorded under As-stress as compared to control. The varietal differences showed that Pearl exhibited tolerance against As-stress as compared to Akbar. However, thiamine and IAA treated seeds of maize manifested remarkable enhancement in plant growth attributes with better chlorophyll, plant water status, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants activities under imposed As-stress. The growth and biomass significantly increased with priming treatments of thiamine and IAA under both As-stress levels of both varieties that suggests the role of these in As-stress tolerance. Overall, the performance order in improving growth under As-stress of thiamine and IAA treatments was thiamine + IAA > thiamine > IAA observed in both maize varieties.

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Comparison of Alteration in Growth, Physiological and Biochemical Attributes of Ten Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Varieties under Arsenic Stress: Susceptibility and Tolerance

Abstract: The current findings concluded the reverse impacts of arsenic (As) stress on ten contrasting maize varieties (

Cited by 4 publications

References 44 publications

Maize grain nutritional quality amelioration with seed-applied thiamine and indole-3-acetic acid under arsenic toxicity

Maize grain nutritional quality amelioration with seed-applied thiamine and indole-3-acetic acid under arsenic toxicity

Soil zinc application decreases arsenic and increases zinc accumulation in grains of zinc-biofortified wheat cultivars

Thiamine and Indole-3-Acetic Acid Induced Modulations in Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Arsenic Stress

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