Exogenous application of growth stimulators improves the condition of maize exposed to soil drought

• Published in: Acta physiologiae plantarum Vol. 43; no. 4
• Main Authors: Ostrowska, Agnieszka, Grzesiak, Maciej T., Hura, Tomasz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Aminolevulinic acid; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chlorophyll; Corn; Dehydration; Developmental stages; Drought; Elongation; Gas exchange; Leaves; Life Sciences; Original Article; Photochemicals; Photosynthesis; Photosystem II; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant growth; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plants; Silicon; Soils; Stems; Stimulators; Thermophilic plants; Transpiration; Triacontanol; Water management; Zearalenone; Zearalenone; Silicon; Water stress; 5-aminolevulinic acid; Triacontanol
• ISSN: 0137-5881; 1861-1664
• DOI: 10.1007/s11738-021-03232-2

Soil drought is a major problem in plant cultivation. This is particularly true for thermophilic plants, such as maize, which grow in areas often affected by precipitation shortage. The problem may be alleviated using plant growth and development stimulators. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), zearalenone (ZEN), triacontanol (TRIA) and silicon (Si) on water management and photosynthetic activity of maize under soil drought. The experiments covered three developmental stages: three leaves, stem elongation and heading. The impact of these substances applied during drought stress depended on the plant development stage. 5-ALA affected chlorophyll levels, gas exchange and photochemical activity of PSII. Similar effects were observed for ZEN, which additionally induced stem elongation and limited dehydration. Beneficial effects of TRIA were visible at the stage of three leaves and involved leaf hydration and plant growth. A silicon preparation applied at the same developmental stage triggered similar effects and additionally induced changes in chlorophyll levels. All the stimulators significantly affected transpiration intensity at the heading stage.