Effects of Zinc and Ascorbic Acid Application on the Growth and Photosynthetic Pigments of Millet Plants Grown under Different Salinity

Abstract

Salinity stress impacts crop growth as well as production. The need for increased food production to feed the increasing population and the limited resources, i.e. optimal quality land and water, require developing strategies to mitigate marginal stresses, including salinity stress, for reasonable expectation of crop production. A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt in the summer season of 2005 to evaluate the effects of foliar application of ascorbic acid alone or in combination with zinc sulfate on the growth and photosynthetic pigments of millet plants irrigated by tap water (250 ppm, 0.39 dS•m −1) or moderate to high salinity irrigation water [2500 ppm (3.9 dS•m −1) and 5000 ppm (7.8 dS•m −1)]. Increased salinity in the irrigation water decreased the plant growth, biomass, and carotenoid content. Foliar application of ascorbic acid alone increased number of leaves and leaf area, while in combination with zinc sulfate increased the plant height and total plant biomass. However, these treatments had no significant effects on the photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrates that exogenous application of ascorbic acid can enhance foliar growth which may contribute to increased plant biomass and yield.

A metabolomics study of ascorbic acid‐induced in situ freezing tolerance in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

“…Research shows that exogenous application of AsA improved plant growth in wheat (Athar, Khan, & Ashraf, ) and millet (Hussein & Alva, ). This supports our observation of 7%–16% higher leaf area in AsA‐fed leaves (Table ).…”

“…The effect of AsA on plant growth as well as stress tolerance is dependent upon the mode of application and concentration (Akram et al, 2017). Hence, we first tested four AsA concentrations (i.e., 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, Research shows that exogenous application of AsA improved plant growth in wheat (Athar, Khan, & Ashraf, 2008) and millet (Hussein & Alva, 2014). This supports our observation of 7%-16% higher leaf area in AsA-fed leaves (Table 1).…”

Ascorbic Acid-A Potential Oxidant Scavenger and Its Role in Plant Development and Abiotic Stress Tolerance

“…Exogenous application of AsA through different modes has been widely reported to improve salinity tolerance of many plants (Hussein and Alva, 2014; Barus et al, 2015). For example, in an earlier study, the effects of various levels of AsA as a seed treatment (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mM) were assessed in callus culture/plants of sugarcane grown under saline conditions (Munir et al, 2013).…”

ALLEVIATING EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID ON LEAD TOXICITY IN GOJI (Lycium barbarum L.) IN VITRO

“…According to many authors (Agami 2014;Hussein and Alva 2014;Krupa-Małkiewicz et al 2015) the exogenous application of biologically active substances such as ascorbic acid is effective in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress on growth of many plants. In addition, Cao et al (2013) showed that Cd-induced chlorophyll synthesis inhibition was markedly reverted and the content was even more than control when rice seedlings were pre-treated with GSH, GB or SA.…”