108(2)_str 16

ISSN 1392-3196 / e-ISSN 2335-8947
Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, vol. 108, No. 2 (2021), p. 125–132
DOI 10.13080/z-a.2021.108.016

The efficiency of pre-treatment of maize seeds with plant growth regulators for resistance of maize seedlings to zinc ions

Dmitry I. BASHMAKOV, Alexandr S. LUKATKIN, Jurga MILIAUSKIENĖ, Laisvūnė DUCHOVSKIENĖ, Pavelas DUCHOVSKIS

Abstract

In this research, the effects of maize seed pre-treatment with synthetic (Thidiazuron, Cytodef, Kinetin and Epin-extra) and natural (Ribav-extra) plant growth regulators (PGRs) on axial growth of seedlings of maize (Zea maysL.) cultivar ‘Tzaritza’ exposed to zinc ions (Zn²⁺) were investigated. Also, the influence of applied PGRs on Zn²⁺ allocation in maize root tissues was studied. The seeds of maize were treated with various PGRs and grown for 7 days on 1 µM, 10 µM, 0.1 mM and 1 mM Zn²⁺ concentrations. After that the growth of shoot and root, and generation of catalase in maize leaves were recorded. In order to detect the effect of PGRs on Zn²⁺ allocation in maize root tissues, the seeds were treated with solutions containing different PGRs then 5-day old seedlings were treated with 1 mM Zn²⁺ for 3 days. The transverse root slices were stained with dithizone and observed under a microscope. It was found that pre-treatment of maize seeds with solutions containing different PGRs modified the allocation of Zn²⁺ in root tissues: Thidiazuron enhanced, while Epin-extra impaired the absorption of Zn²⁺ in root tissues. The effect of pre-sowing treatment of seeds with each PGR on seedling growth depended on the concentration of Zn²⁺ in the growth medium. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with Epin-extra and Ribav-extra was the most effective under higher (0.1 and 1 mM) Zn²⁺ concentration by inducing both axial growth and the activity of catalase in maize, whereas pre-sowing treatment of seeds with Kinetin was effective for maize root growth under all applied Zn²⁺ concentrations.

The research data suggests that the maize plants, whose seeds had been treated with PGRs, were more Zn²⁺-resistant than the untreated ones.

Key words: axial organs, catalase, growth, pre-treatment, root, Zea mays.

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