Low Doses of Cuscuta reflexa Extract Act as Natural Biostimulants to Improve the Germination Vigor, Growth, and Grain Yield of Wheat Grown under Water Stress: Photosynthetic Pigments, Antioxidative Defense Mechanisms, and Nutrient Acquisition

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Cuscuta reflexa extract (CRE) on the activities of germination enzymes, seed germination vigor, biomass production, physio-biochemical attributes, and seed yield of water-stressed wheat plants. Different levels of CRE (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%), including water soaking, were used as seed priming. Water stress negatively affected the seed germination, germination enzyme activities, growth, yield, and different physio-biochemical attributes of wheat plants. Low doses of CRE (10, 20, and 30%) ameliorated the adverse effects of water stress on seed germination attributes, and activities of germination enzymes, but negative impacts were recorded at higher doses (40 and 50%) of CRE. Water-stressed wheat plants grown from seeds pre-treated with low doses of CRE also showed better growth and yield as compared with non-treated ones, and that was associated with an improvement in water relations, photosynthetic pigments, nutrient acquisition, reduced lipid peroxidation, and better antioxidative defense mechanisms. The maximum increase in seed yield was 14.77 and 12.32%, found in plants grown from seeds treated with 20% and 10% CRE, respectively. In conclusion, it is suggested that using low doses of CRE as seed priming can contribute to better wheat yield under water stress, especially in semi-arid and arid areas.

Seed Priming with Brassinosteroids Alleviates Chromium Stress in Rice Cultivars via Improving ROS Metabolism and Antioxidant Defense Response at Biochemical and Molecular Levels

“…We used principal component analysis (PCA) to recognize and categorize the large dataset in terms of growth and physiological parameters into a small number of dynamically interrelated variables in our study [68,69]. It was found that EBL priming of rice seedlings in both cultivars was distinctly separate in PCA compared to Cr stressed plants.…”

Fertigation with Zn-Lysine Confers Better Photosynthetic Efficiency and Yield in Water Stressed Maize: Water Relations, Antioxidative Defense Mechanism and Nutrient Acquisition

“…Under such conditions, obtaining better plant growth and yield has become an important issue in crop plants. To overcome this problem, different strategies, including the use of chemicals, have gained interest among the researchers [ 6 , 7 , 11 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 ]. In present study, reduced irrigation significantly decreased the growth and yield of both maize genotypes and greater decreases were recorded in cv.…”

“…This reduction in seed yield due to water shortage is also linked with disturbances in soil physio-chemical properties that alter the biochemical and physiological activities of plants [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Water shortage reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in the rhizospher for uptake through roots due to a decrease in soil osmotic potential [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. This results in disturbed plant–water relations, plant photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidative defense mechanisms, leading to decreased growth and seed yield [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Water shortage reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in the rhizospher for uptake through roots due to a decrease in soil osmotic potential [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. This results in disturbed plant–water relations, plant photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidative defense mechanisms, leading to decreased growth and seed yield [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Under such conditions, the soil nutrient status is of prime importance [ 10 ].…”

Peptone-Induced Physio-Biochemical Modulations Reduce Cadmium Toxicity and Accumulation in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

“…It has been suggested that biostimulants could interact with signaling processes and help plants to cope with the environmental stress. Biostimulants are derived from various inorganic and biological compounds, such as fulvic and humic substances, animal feeds, protein hydrolysates, and industrial discards [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Protein hydrolysates increase the activity of enzymes and improve the uptake of nutrients [ 19 ].…”