Effect of Foliar and Soil Application of Chitosan Nanoparticles on some of Physiological Characteristics of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Drought Stress

• Published in: Ikūfīziyūlūzhī-i giyāhān-i zirāʻī (Tabrīz. Online) Vol. 12; no. 1(45) بهار; pp. 37 - 56
• Main Authors: Faride Behboudi, Zeinolabedin Tahmasebi Sarvestani, Mohamad Zaman Kassaee, Seyed Ali Mohamad Modares Sanavi, Ali Sorooshzadeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Persian
• Published: Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Carbohydrate; chlorophyll; Grain yield; Photosynthesis
• ISSN: 2538-1822; 2476-731X

Chitosan is a glucosamine polysaccharide deacetylated form of chitin species and could be used as biotic elicitor to improve secondary metabolites and as a fertilizer it controls the release of chemical compounds of toxins and stimulates germination and plant growth. Thus, to evaluate the effect of chitosan NPs on barley plants under late season drought stress, a factorial pot experiment was performed based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental factors were NPs concentrations at 4 levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 ppm), method of usage at 2 levels (foliar and soil application) and irrigation regimes at 2 levels (normal irrigation and with-holding irrigation 15 days after pollination). Experimental procedure consisted of planting seeds, preparing chitosan NPs solution, and using solutions through soil and foliar application at three plant growth stages (tillering, stem elongation and heading). Results indicated that drought stress significantly decreased contents of carotenoid, chlorophyll a, the chlorophyll b, the total chlorophyll, rate of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, grain yield, as well as, biomass. Results also showed that contents of soluble carbohydrate, glucose, sucrose, fructose, intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and photosynthetic water use efficiency (WUE) were increased. Also, under both irrigation regimes, application of chitosan NPs significantly increased the chlorophyll a, the chlorophyll b, the soluble chlorophyll and the glucose. Application of 60 and 90 ppm NPs significantly increased grain yield as compared to that of control. Signifficant diffrences for some traits under study between two usage methods of NPs were not observed. In general, application of chitosan NPs reduced negative effects of drought stress for barley plants and improved its growth and seed yield.