Role of exogenous-applied salicylic acid, zinc and glycine betaine to improve drought-tolerance in wheat during reproductive growth stages

• DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-03367-x
• Publication Date: 2021-12-06T06:02:43Z
• Authors: Ramadan Shemi; Rui Wang; El-Sayed M. S. Gh...; Hafiz Athar Hussain; Linna Cholidah; Kangping Zhang; Sai Zhang; Longchang Wang
• Keywords: Osmolyte; Betaine; Drought Tolerance; Stomatal Conductance; Water Use Efficiency

Abstract Background Drought has become a dangerous threat to reduce crop productivity throughout the world. Exogenous applications of regulators, micronutrients, and/or osmoprotectants for inducing drought-tolerance in field crops have been effectively adopted. A controlled pot study was performed investigate relative efficacy salicylic acid (SA), zinc (Zn), and glycine betaine (GB) as foliar on growth, tissues pigments content, water content (RWC), leaf gas-exchange, antioxidant enzymes activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, osmolytes contents, yield parameters wheat plants subjected two soil conditions (85% capacity: well-watered, 50% water-deficient) during reproductive growth stages. Results Water deficient significantly decreased parameters, RWC, photosynthesis pigment, gas-exchange attributes except intercellular CO 2 concentration. However, remarkably improved under deficit conditions. Under drought condition, exogenous SA, Zn, GB increased grain − 1 by 27.99, 15.23 37.36%, respectively, compared control treatment. stress statistically contents hydrogen peroxide (H O ), superoxide anion radical (O •− malonaldehyde (MDA), elevated harmful oxidation cell lipids plants, however, they were considerably reduced applications. Foliar MDA 29.09, 16.64 26.51% stress, Activities all enzymes, proline soluble sugar response Conclusions Overall, application GB, Zn compounds decreasing ROS promoting enzymatic antioxidants, increasing accumulation. Finally, treatment most effective thoroughly assessed followed SA alleviate adverse effects stress.