Drought and Salt Stress Mitigation by Seed Priming with KNO3 and Urea in Various Maize Hybrids: An Experimental Approach Based on Enhancing Antioxidant Responses

Priming offers an effective means for counteracting different stresses induced oxidative injury and raising seed performance in many crop species. The present study was carried out to investigate the ability of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) and urea to promote the tolerance of different maize hybrids to drought and salt stresses to identify some biochemical parameters associated with KNO₃ and urea induced resistance in maize seedlings. An experiment was conducted in a controlled environment of the laboratory at the college of agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz Iran, during 2010. The first factor was stress type and intensity at five levels; moderate drought, severe drought, moderate salt, severe salt, and control (without stress). Seed priming was the second factor; water as control, KNO₃, and urea, and maize hybrids, including Maxima, SC704, Zola, and 304 were the third factor. Results indicated that the highest chlorophyll a (Ch a), chlorophyll b (Ch b), total chlorophyll (Ch T) contents, and carotenoids (Car) were found in no stress treatments and the most proline, protein contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities in severe drought treatment. Also, results revealed that generally, drought and salinity stresses decreased the amount of Ch a and the lowest Ch a was recorded for severe salinity stress (4.29 mg g^?1). Stresses caused decrease in Ch b, but the effect of sever salinity level was higher than the others. Priming of KNO₃ had significantly higher proline content than water and urea priming. The SC704 and 304 hybrids showed higher proline content than the other ones. Finally, the maize seed KNO₃ and urea priming lead to high activities of antioxidant defensive enzymes and increase the tolerance level to abiotic stresses such as salt and drought.     

Silicon: a beneficial nutrient for maize crop to enhance photochemical efficiency of photosystem II under salt stress

Soil salinity imposes an unprecedented risk to the soil fertility and availability of plant nutrients. The present proposal is designed to address the effect of salt stress on photosynthetic apparatus of maize including chlorophyll a fluorescence and how silicon nutrition helps to overcome this issue. In a sand culture experiment, two maize cultivars were sown in small pots with two levels of silicon (0 and 2 mM H₂SiO₃) and two levels of salinity stress (0 and 60 mM NaCl). Salinity stress reduced dry matter yield and potassium (K) concentration in both maize cultivars and also induced inefficient working of photosynthetic apparatus including photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. Silicon addition alleviated NaCl stress on maize crop by improving the dry matter yield and water use efficiency (WUE). It decreased shoot Na concentration by increasing root and shoot K concentration of maize plants. It enhanced maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry which leads to smooth electron transport chain. It also significantly enhanced shoot silicon concentration and has a significant positive correlation with WUE. Therefore, silicon-treated maize plants have better chance to survive under salt stress conditions as their photosynthetic apparatus is working far better than non-silicon-treated plants.     

EFFECT OF POTASSIUM NUTRITION ON SOLUTE ACCUMULATION,ION COMPOSITION AND YIELD OF MAIZE HYBRIDS GROWN UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

An experiment was conducted to study the response of two maize hybrids to external potassium (K) application under saline conditions. The data showed that there was an increase in the organic solute contents and sodium ion under salinity stress, though potassium, calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus were decreased. There was a non-significant effect of K application on glycinebetaine and total soluble sugar, however; the proline, protein and total free amino acids were increased with the application of external K. The enzymatic activity like nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activity were severely reduced under salinity stress and improved by K application. The maize hybrids differed significantly for all the parameters discussed in the study except sugar, phosphorus and number of grain rows per cob. The increase in yield parameters was more pronounced under control than under saline conditions. The enhanced yield and yield components of these maize hybrids might be due to the quick response to external K application, resulting in high contents of leaf potassium, calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus. The results indicated that the maize hybrid ‘Pioneer32B33’ might perform better than ‘Dekalb979’ under saline conditions when sufficient potassium is applied in the rooting medium.     

EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM NITRATE TO ALLEVIATE SALT STRESS IN RICE SEEDLINGS

□ Overall growth characteristics of many plant species cultivated in soil affected by salinity could be alleviated by the application of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) to the soil. The aim of this research was to investigate salt-tolerance in a salt-sensitive rice cultivar, ‘Pathumthani 1’ (PT1), in response to the exogenous application of 11.8 mM KNO₃, in comparison to ‘Homjan’ (HJ), a salt tolerant cultivar. Water potential (ψ_w) in both the roots and leaves of PT1 seedlings under salt stress dropped significantly, while it was maintained in PT1 pretreated with KNO₃, and similarly in HJ. The reduction of leaf water potential was positively related to total chlorophyll degradation, leading to diminished chlorophyll fluorescence, directly affecting growth in plants exposed to salt stress. In salt-sensitive PT1, the application of 11.8 mM KNO₃ improved salt-tolerance via the conservation of water use efficiency, the maintenance of photosynthetic pigments, enhancement of chlorophyll a fluorescence, and stimulation of growth characters.     

Effect of Nitrogen Nutrition on Solute Accumulation and Ion Contents of Maize under Sodium Chloride Stress

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that limits the productivity of crops, particularly cereal crops, while decreasing nutrient availability, especially of nitrogen. An experiment was conducted to study the effects of salt stress [i.e., S₀, S₁, and S₂ (control, 1.09; 5; and 10 dS m^?1)] and four different nitrogen (N) levels [i.e., N₀, N₁, N₂, and N₃ (control, 175, 225, and 275 kg N ha^?1)] on two maize hybrids, Pioneer 32B33 (salt tolerant) and Dekalb 979 (salt sensitive). The experiment was conducted in a wire house. The experiment was laid out with three factors in a completely randomized design. The plant tissue was analyzed for solute and ion contents. With the increase in salt stress and N rate, solute (i.e., glycinebetaine), protein, total soluble sugar, and total free amino acids accumulated in both hybrids. Nitrate (NO₃) and nitrite (NO₂) reductase activity decreased sharply at 10 dS m^?1 compared to lower levels of salinity but it increased significantly with the addition of N. The uptake of potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), N, and phosphorus (P) reduced significantly in shoots with increased salinity while the sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl) contents were increased. It is concluded from the present study that at greater salinity level, hybrid Pioneer32B33 maintained statistically greater solute and ion contents excluding Na⁺ and Cl ions and significantly decreased enzyme activity. However, these parameters were increased by N rate.     

Silicon-induced changes in growth,ionic composition,water relations,chlorophyll contents and membrane permeability in two salt-stressed wheat genotypes

We investigated the effect of exogenously applied silicon (Si) on the growth and physiological attributes of wheat grown under sodium chloride salinity stress in two independent experiments. In the first experiment, two wheat genotypes SARC-3 (salt tolerant) and Auqab 2000 (salt sensitive) were grown in nutrient solution containing 0 and 100 mM sodium chloride supplemented with 2 mM Si or not. Salinity stress substantially reduced shoot and root dry matter in both genotypes; nonetheless, reduction in shoot dry weight was (2.6-fold) lower in SARC-3 than in Auqab 2000 (5-fold). Application of Si increased shoot and root dry weight and plant water contents in both normal and saline conditions. Shoot Na⁺ and Na⁺:K⁺ ratio also decreased with Si application under stress conditions. In the second experiment, both genotypes were grown in normal nutrient solution with and without 2 mM Si. After 12 days, seedlings were transferred to 1-l plastic pots and 150 mM sodium chloride salinity stress was imposed for 10 days to all pots. Shoot growth, chlorophyll content and membrane permeability were improved by Si application. Improved growth of salt-stressed wheat by Si application was mainly attributed to improved plant water contents in shoots, chlorophyll content, decreased Na⁺ and increased K⁺ concentrations in shoots as well as maintained membrane permeability.     

低氮胁迫对耐低氮玉米品种苗期光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

【目的】叶绿素荧光参数经常用来评价光合器官的功能和环境压力的影响,不同玉米基因型耐低氮胁迫能力差异较大,与光合及叶绿素荧光特性对低氮胁迫的响应机制有关。本文以耐低氮能力差异较大的4个玉米杂交种为试验材料,研究了低氮胁迫对不同耐低氮性玉米品种苗期光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响,以期明确耐低氮胁迫玉米品种的光合机制。【方法】采用二因素完全随机设计盆栽试验,因素A为不同耐低氮性玉米品种:‘正红311’、‘成单30’和不耐低氮品种‘先玉508’、‘三北2号’;因素B为不同氮素水平:正常氮CK(霍格兰完全营养液,N 15 mmol/L)、低氮胁迫LN1(N 0.5 mmol/L)、极低氮胁迫LN2(N 0.05 mmol/L)。测定了苗期单株干物质积累量,单株氮素积累量,叶片叶绿素含量与荧光特性,以及光合效率指标。【结果】低氮胁迫下玉米苗期单株干物质积累量、单株氮素积累量、叶片叶绿素含量等生理指标显著下降,但耐低氮品种的下降幅度显著低于不耐低氮品种;低氮胁迫下玉米苗净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)显著降低,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)显著升高,净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Tr)的降幅及胞间CO2浓度(Ci)的增幅耐低氮品种均显著低于不耐低氮品种;低氮胁迫下可变荧光(Fv)、最大荧光(Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/F0)、PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ有效光量子产量(Fv'/Fm')和光化学猝灭系数(q P)等叶绿素荧光特性也均显著降低,耐低氮品种下降幅度显著低于不耐低氮品种;低氮胁迫下耐低氮品种PSⅡ实际光量子产量(ΦPSⅡ)降低,不耐低氮品种有所增加;而耐低氮品种非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)升高,不耐低氮品种有所降低。【结论】耐低氮玉米品种能够减缓低氮胁迫对植株光合系统的影响,进而保证植株较高的氮素积累,提高叶片叶绿素含量,维持较高的PSⅡ有效光量子产量(Fv'/Fm')和光化学猝灭系数(q P),为光合作用提供充足的光能;从而保持了较高的净光合速率(Pn),保证了耐低氮品种在低氮条件下保持较高的干物质生产。     

Apoplast acidification is not a necessary determinant for the resistance of maize in the first phase of salt stress

In previous studies, a relation between plant growth during the first phase of salt stress and cell‐wall acidification was shown for differently resistant maize genotypes. In the present study, plants of the salt‐sensitive maize (Zea mays L.) cv. Pioneer 3906 and the salt‐resistant genotype SR 12, grown under 100 mM NaCl, showed a similar decrease in plasmalemma H⁺‐ATPase activity, while SR 12 showed less growth reduction than Pioneer 3906. From this it is concluded that maintenance of apoplast acidification is not necessary for better plant growth during the first phase of salt stress.     

Salt tolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> (L). following inoculation with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizobium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis>

This study aimed to investigate the effect of inoculation with plant growth-promoting Rhizobium and Pseudomonas species on NaCl-affected maize. Two cultivars of maize (cv. Agaiti 2002 and cv. Av 4001) selected on the basis of their yield potential were grown in pots outdoors under natural conditions during July. Microorganisms were applied at seedling stage and salt stress was induced 21 days after sowing and maintained up to 50% flowering after 120 days of stress. The salt treatment caused a detrimental effect on growth and development of plants. Co-inoculation resulted in some positive adaptative responses of maize plants under salinity. The salt tolerance from inoculation was generally mediated by decreases in electrolyte leakage and in osmotic potential, an increase in osmoregulant (proline) production, maintenance of relative water content of leaves, and selective uptake of K ions. Generally, the microbial strain acted synergistically. However, under unstressed conditions, Rhizobium was more effective than Pseudomonas but under salt stress the favorable effect was observed even if some exceptions were also observed. The maize cv. Agaiti 2002 appeared to be more responsive to inoculation and was relatively less tolerant to salt compared to that of cv. Av 4001.     

Combined Application of Potassium and Zinc Improves Water Relations,Stay Green,Irrigation Water Use Efficiency,and Grain Quality of Maize under Drought Stress

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays an important role in the global food security, but its production is threatened by climate change, especially drought stress. Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) are considered useful to mitigate the negative consequences of drought stress in plants. Therefore, the objective of this two-year study was to identify the best combination of K and Zn application to improve the water relations, photosynthetic pigments, yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and grain quality of maize sown under mild and severe drought stress conditions. The consisted of three drought stress levels viz. 1) well-watered as control (WW), 2) mild drought (MD) with 25?mm of potential soil moisture deficit (PSMD), 3) severe drought (SD) with 50?mm of PSMD and six K-Zn treatments: i.e. 125, 100 and 150?kg ha^?1 K with 0 and 12?kg ha^?1 Zn. The results indicated that K-Zn application improved the water relations and chlorophyll contents, biological yield and grain quality, irrespective of water stress treatment. The combined application of K-Zn under mild drought stress produced statistically same biological yield and grain quality as under well-irrigated without K-Zn fertilization and also produced compratively higher IWUE, biological yield and grain quality under sverer drought stress. Hence, the application of K at 150?kg ha^?1 in combination with Zn at 12?kg ha^?1 might be useful to improve the maize production and grain quality under drought stress. As IWUE was low in WW conditions, therefore, irrigation scheduling must be re-evaluated for optimum water use efficiency.     

Effects of different levels of soil salinity on yield attributes,accumulation of nitrogen,and micronutrients in Brassica spp.

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of soil salinity on yield attributes as well as nutrient accumulation in different plant parts of seven Brassica cultivars from two different species raised in pot culture experiment with two levels of salinity treatments along with control corresponding to soil electrical conductivity (EC) values of 1.65 (S₀), 4.50 (S₁) and 6.76 (S₂) dS m^?1. The experiment was consisted of twelve replications in a completely randomized design. Imposition of salinity stress affected various yield attributing characters including plant height, which ultimately led to severe yield reduction. However, tolerant cultivars, CS 52 and CS 54 performed better under salt treatment showing lesser yield loss. Salinity stress reduced the nitrogen (N) content in leaves of the Brassica plants, which reflected in decreased seed protein content. Reduced accumulation of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) was observed in leaf, stem and root at flowering and post-flowering stages, while CS 52 and CS 54 showed less reduction than susceptible cultivars under salinity stress.     

RESPONSE OF SALT STRESSED STRAWBERRY PLANTS TO FOLIAR SALICYLIC ACID PRE-TREATMENTS

Salinity has deleterious effects on plant growth and development through membrane stability, photosynthetic activity, protein content, and ionic composition; however, salicylic acid (SA) could restore these properties in plants. The objective of this study was to determine the ameliorative effects of SA as foliar pre-treatments on membrane permeability, proline and protein contents, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll and ionic composition of strawberry cv. ‘Camarosa’ under saline conditions. Membrane permeability and proline content significantly increased and protein and chlorophyll contents significantly decreased by 6 mS cm^?1 application without SA treatment compared with the control (2 mS cm^?1) treatment. Membrane permeability decreased from 6.9 in 0 mM SA treatment to 5.2 by application of 1.0 mM SA under saline conditions and same to the control (5.2). Compared with 0 mM SA treatment, the average increases of proline and protein contents were 66.7% in 0.25 mM SA treatment and 62.2% in 0.1 mM SA treatment in 6 mS cm^?1 level, respectively. Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll significantly increased by 0.25 mM SA treatments under saline conditions. The lowest and the highest chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were obtained from 0 mM SA treatment (19.6 and 44.5 mg L^?1) and 0.25 mM SA treatment (28.6 and 52.9 mg L^?1) in 6 mS cm^?1 salinity level. Ionic compositions of leaves were significantly affected by salinity and SA treatments. Nitrogen in 1.0 mM SA treatment and P contents of leaves in 0.1 mM SA treatment significantly increased but Na and Cl contents of leaves significantly decreased by SA treatments in 6 mS cm^?1 salinity level. The results of this study were clearly indicated that the SA application on strawberry plants could ameliorate the deleterious effect of salt stress on membrane permeability, proline, protein, and chlorophyll contents. Therefore, SA treatment could offer an economic and simple application to salinity stress.     

光氮互作对玉米叶片光合色素及其荧光特性与能量转换的影响

光、氮及其互作对玉米幼苗叶片的色素含量与各种色素的比例、叶片荧光特性及能量转换有着显著的影响。高光强下生长的叶片具有较高的叶绿素a、b ,总叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量 ,以及较高的叶绿素a/叶绿素总量和叶绿素a/b比值。在两种光强下叶片各种色素的含量以及叶绿素a/b比值均随氮水平的增加而先升后降 ,低光强下升降的转折点出现在较低的供氮水平。在较高的供氮条件下 ,高光强下生长叶片的PSII效率较高 ,非光化学淬灭较低 ,光能较多地进入光化学过程 ;低光强下的叶片则有较多的光能通过天线色素以热能和以荧光发射散失 ,PSII效率较低。在高光强缺氮条件下和低光强高氮条件下的PSII效率最低 ;高光强下适宜的氮素水平较低光强下高     

Morpho-physiological and yield responses to exogenous moringa leaf extract and salicylic acid in maize (Zea mays L.) under water stress

Two field experiments were executed to investigate the effects of foliar-applied moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract (MLE; 1:30 w/v) and salicylic acid (SA; 0.5 mmol), singly or in combination, on growth, physio-biochemical, yield attributes and water use efficiency (WUE) of maize (Zea mays L., Three Ways Cross 329) under full and deficit irrigation conditions. Deficit irrigation was carried out by withholding water for 36 d from 12 to 48 days after sowing (DAS). At vegetative stage, deficit irrigation signi?cantly decreased all growth criteria, chlorophyll a concentration, and relative water content (RWC). In contrast, deficit irrigation considerably increased the concentrations of carotenoids, proline, membrane permeability (MP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Similarly, grain yield, most yield components and WUE were significantly depressed in drought-stressed plants. However, foliar-applied treatments particularly MLE+SA signi?cantly increased growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, RWC and proline accumulation associated with a simultaneous decrease in MP and MDA concentration under full and deficit irrigation conditions. The application of MLE+SA markedly increased grain yield, yield components and WUE over control (spray tap water). Overall, the combined application of MLE and SA could be used for alleviating the adverse effects of growth, physiology, yield criteria and WUE in drought-stressed maize plants.     

INTER-RELATIONSHIPS OF APPLIED NITROGEN,SPAD, AND YIELD OF LEAFY AND NON-LEAFY MAIZE GENOTYPES

The SPAD chlorophyll meter was found to be a reliable, quick, and non-destructive tool used for directly measuring leaf chlorophyll and indirectly assessing the proportional parameter of leaf, and by extension, plant nitrogen (N) status. The meter has been used successfully to assess leaf N in conventional maize crops, but it has not been used with new maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes containing leafy (L) and reduced stature (RS) traits. SPAD meter readings were collected on the uppermost fully developed leaves (before silking) and on the ear leaf (after silking) of field grown maize genotypes with and without the L and RS traits. The experiment was conducted during 1996 and 1997 at two sites in Eastern Canada (Ottawa and Montreal). At each site in each year, a split plot arrangement of two treatment factors was used in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. The main plot treatments were levels of N (0, 85, 170, and 255 kg ha^?1), with six maize genotypes as subplot treatments. The hybrids included: (i) leafy reduced-stature, LRS, (ii) non-leafy normal stature, NLNS, (iii) leafy normal stature, (LNS), (iv) non-leafy reduced-stature, NLRS, (v) conventional commercial hybrids, Pioneer 3905 as the hybrid check for late maturity, and (vi) Pioneer 3979, a check for early maturity. The hybrids were chosen on the basis of their contrasting canopies and root architecture. The SPAD meter readings were collected on the same five plant genotypes over time (six times per site per year, except four times for the Ottawa site in 1997). All genotypes showed increasing meter reading values as plants aged until silking. In general, SPAD meter readings increased as N fertilization level increased at each measurement date for both sites and years. In general, LNS and P3905 hybrids showed greater SPAD meter readings than other hybrids at all sampling dates for both sites and growing seasons. Applied N rates were significantly correlated with the SPAD meter readings. More highly significant relationships were found for N fertilizer levels and SPAD meter readings for the hybrids in 1997 than for the hybrids in 1996. For the Montreal site in 1997, LRS, LNS and P3905 hybrids were among those showing the highest r values between N level and SPAD readings. The correlation coefficients between SPAD readings and grain yield were generally lower. However, the NLNS hybrid had a high SPAD-yield correlation at the Macdonald site in 1997.     

Invertase activity limits grain yield of maize under salt stress

Salt stress reduces grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.) due to poor kernel setting but not due to decreased grain filling. In the present study, it was tested whether acid invertase activity is decreased in developing kernels of maize under salt stress, and if assimilate supply is limited. The relatively salt‐sensitive maize hybrid Pioneer 3906 was compared with the more salt‐resistant hybrid SR 12. Salt stress caused a significant decrease in grain yield which was due to a 50% decrease in kernel number. No source limitation was observed, as the sucrose concentrations in kernels were significantly increased under salt stress for both genotypes. In contrast, glucose and fructose concentrations in kernels were significantly decreased. Salt stress caused a significant inhibition of soluble acid invertase activity to 19% in hydroponics 5 d after pollination (5 DAP) and to 50% in the soil culture experiment (2 DAP). The decrease in enzyme activity was the same for both genotypes. In the soil experiment, the highest soluble acid invertase activity was found 2 DAP with a steep decline until 8 DAP in Pioneer 3906. It is concluded that a decrease in acid invertase activity is a key factor associated with limited kernel setting under salt stress but additional factors may be responsible for genotypic differences.     

Salt-induced perturbation in growth,physiological attributes,activities of antioxidant enzymes and organic solutes in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) cultivars differing in salinity tolerance

A pot experiment was conducted to appraise the inhibitory effects of salt stress on biochemical attributes in the three mungbean cultivars (NCM-209, NCM-89 and NM-92). Salt stress caused a significant decrease in plant height, shoot relative water contents, photosynthetic pigments, endogenous levels of K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratios and increase in cellular levels of H₂O₂, MDA, Na⁺ and Cl^?. However, cv. NCM-209 was found to be tolerant in terms of lower salt-induced decline in K⁺, K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and photosynthetic pigments. The endogenous levels of H₂O₂ and MDA were also lower in cv. NCM-209. Salt stress markedly also affected different yield attributes in all mungbean cultivars. Again cultivar NCM-209 exhibited less inhibitory effects of salt stress on different growth attributes. Salt stress resulted in a marked increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) in mungbean cultivars. Activity of peroxidase was maximal in cv. NCM-209 and catalase activity was maximal in cv. NCM-89, whereas cvs. NCM-89 and NM-92 showed higher activities of superoxide dismutase. Similarly activity of ascorbate peroxidase was higher in cv. NM-92. It could be inferred from data of antioxidant enzymes that mungbean cultivars cannot be categorized as salt tolerant or sensitive on the basis of a single antioxidant enzyme.     

Enhancing maize grain yield under salt-affected field conditions using salt-resistant maize hybrids and higher planting density

Background

In arid and semiarid countries, grain yield of maize is increasingly impaired by soil salinity. Beside soil amelioration, the development of salt-resistant cultivars is a possibility to enhance crop yield on salt-affected soils.

Aims

This study aimed at testing yield performance in the field of salt-resistant maize hybrids on a salt-affected soil. In addition, planting density was optimized under the saline conditions.

Methods

Four salt-resistant maize hybrids (Zea mays L. SR-05, SR-12, SR-15, and SR-16) were grown under control (EC = 2.0–2.5 dS m⁻¹) and saline (EC = 10.0–12.0 dS m⁻¹) field conditions and compared to the salt-sensitive maize cv. Pioneer-3906. Planting density (5, 8, or 11 plants m⁻²) was optimized for saline soil conditions for SR-12 and the local hybrid EV-78.

Results

Yield of Pioneer-3906 was significantly reduced under salinity because of inhibited kernel setting, whereas the SR hybrids showed no decrease in grain yield. Based on grain yield, the optimum planting density was 8 plants m⁻² with no further increase with 11 plants m⁻². In contrast to SR-12, for cv. EV-78 no increase of harvest index with 8 relative to 5 plants m⁻² was observed.

Conclusions

Vegetative growth of Pioneer-3906 and the SR hybrids was decreased due to Phase-I effects but neither due to water deficiency nor ion toxicity. The experiment corroborated the salt resistance of the SR hybrids under field conditions. Under saline conditions, optimum planting density of salt-resistant cultivars may be higher than under nonsaline conditions when sufficient water supply by artificial irrigation is guaranteed.     

Foliar-applied trehalose modulates growth,mineral nutrition,photosynthetic ability,and oxidative defense system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under saline stress

A tub experiment was conducted to assess the effect of exogenously applied trehalose (0, 10, and 20 mM) on various attributes of two rice cultivars (Bas-385 and Bas-2000) under salt stress (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM). Salinity decreased growth, gas exchange characteristics, shoot and root potassium (K⁺) ions, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), total soluble proteins, activity of catalase (CAT), and yield attributes, while it increased chlorophyll contents, shoot and root sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺), malondialdehyde (MDA), glycinebetain (GB), free proline, and peroxidase (POD) activity. Foliar-applied trehalose improved growth attributes, net photosynthetic rate, GB, total soluble proteins, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and yield. Yield was not obtained at 150 mM salt stress. The rice cultivar Bas-2000 showed better performance with respect to gas exchange attributes and activities of enzymatic antioxidants. Overall, varying levels of foliar-applied trehalose proved to be effective in ameliorating adverse effects of salt stress on rice.     

The effect of an NH4 +‐enhanced nitrogen source on the growth and yield of hydroponically grown maize (Zea mays L.)

Increased above‐ground dry matter and grain yields were found for two hydroponically grown maize hybrids (Pioneer‐3925 and Pioneer‐3949) when plants were supplied with an NH₄ ⁺‐enhanced nutrient solution (31 percent of total N) compared with a control (4 percent of total N as NH₄ ⁺). The major difference in yield developed between silking and 2 weeks post‐silking and silking and 4 weeks post‐silking for the P‐3925 and P‐3949 respectively. The reduced nitrogen content of the stover (leaves plus stalk) was consistently higher on the NH₄ ⁺‐enhanced nutrient solution. The decreased production of the control treatment may have resulted from a reduced photsynthetic capacity.