Effect of plant-derived smoke solution on physiological and biochemical characterization of maize (zea mays l.) under salt stress

Abstract

In nature, biotic and abiotic stresses impose negative effects on all life forms. Being a sessile life habitat, plant always exposed to these stresses. Plant when subjected to stress condition, always resulted in a reduced growth. Among the abiotic stresses, salinity is a major cause often hindering plant growth which inturn curtails the crops yield. To lessen the impacts of salinity i.e. alleviation for the betterment of plant growth and crop yield is the matter of interest in the current research scenario. Plant-derived smoke obtaining from burning vegetation have been using in agricultural and horticultural since long. Being a cheap and environment friendly source, smoke play an important role in the enhancement of crops yield. Plant derived smoke possesses alleviation potential for number of stresses. The present research work was conducted to investigate the effect of Cymbopogon jawaracusa smoke extracts (1:100, 1:200,1:300,1:400 and 1:500 dilutions) on physiological and biochemical aspects of maize (Zea mays L.) under different concentrations of NaCl (50,100, 150, 200 and 250 mM). To investigate the alleviation potential of smoke, seeds were primed for 24 h with smoke solution and then subjected to salt stress. Obtained results showed that seed germination percentage was improved up to 93% with smoke as compared to control (70%). Similarly, seedling vigor in term of root and shoot length, fresh and dry weights were also significantly increased in plants raised from seeds primed with smoke extracts. Priming of seeds with smoke solution alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress. Ions analysis indicated that priming with smoke solution increased the level of potassium and calcium while reduced the level of sodium in the exposed plants. In addition, the levels of photosynthetic pigments, total nitrogen and protein contents were also improved with the application of seed priming techniques by using plant smoke solution as compared to salt stressed plants. Salt stress increased the level of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as well as antioxidants in the exposed maize seedlings. Seed priming with smoke solution showed alleviation of stress and the level of ROS as well as antioxidants remained lowered although the seedlings were exposed to salt stress. Findings of this study showed that smoke solution has the potential to alleviate the toxic effects of saline condition as well as can increase the productivity in plants