METHIONINE-INDUCED CHANGES IN GROWTH, GLYCINEBETAINE, ASCORBIC ACID, TOTAL SOLUBLE PROTEINS AND ANTHOCYANIN CONTENTS OF TWO Zea mays L. VARIETIES UNDER SALT STRESS - S. Perveen; S. A. Hussain (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2020)
A pot study was performed to evaluate the influence of methionine (0, 25 and 50 mg L-1) as foliar spray on maize (Zea mays L.) varieties named as DTC (hybrid) and Malika under salt (90 mM NaCl) stress. Seeds of both maize varieties were sown in plastic pots under completely randomized design. Two-week-old maize plants were subjected to two levels of salt stress i.e., 0 and 90 mM (NaCl) in full strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Foliar application of different methionine levels (0, 25 and 50 mg L-1) was applied to four-week-old maize plants. A three way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of data of 11-week-old plants of maize plants showed that salt stress considerably reduced the growth, chlorophyll, relative water content (%), free amino acids and flavonoid contents, whereas improved membrane permeability (%), total leaf area per plant, glycine betaine (GB), total soluble proteins, free proline, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid contents of both maize varieties. Maize var. Malka was greater in fresh weight of root, total chlorophyll and total soluble protein contents, while DTC (hybrid) excelled in anthocyanin, total soluble sugars and flavonoid contents. Methionine as foliar application significantly improved dry shoot weight, fresh root weight, GB, total soluble protein, ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents of two maize varieties under salinity stress. Of the varying methionine levels, 50 mg L-1 proved better in decreasing the adverse influence of NaCl stress on both varieties [DTC (hybrid) and Malika] of maize.
Keywords: journal article; proteins; salinity; oxidative stress; vitamins; ascorbic acid