Triacontanol Improves Arsenic Stress Tolerance in Triticum aestivum L. Varieties by Modulating Secondary Metabolites, Antioxidant Defense System and Grains’ Nutritional Contents
摘要
In order to assess the role of triacontanol (TRIA) in arsenic (NaAsO2) stress tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties, a pot experiment was conducted at the Botanic Garden, Government College University, Faisalabad (Pakistan). Grains of three wheat varieties, i.e., Anaj-2017, Ujala-2016 and AARI-2011 were sown in sand-filled plastic pots. Arsenic (0, 50, and 100 mg/L NaAsO2 in full-strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution) stress was applied after 7 weeks of germination. Foliar application of TRIA (1 µM) was performed on 8-week-old wheat plants.Data from 16-week-old wheat plants was collected for the determination of various growth, physiological and biochemical parameters. Arsenic drastically reduced root and shoot length (18% and 11% respectively), root fresh and dry weights (34% and 32% respectively), total soluble sugars (41%), total free amino acids (36%) and total soluble proteins (12%). Under arsenic stress, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 94%), malondialdehyde (MDA 31%), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD 91%), peroxidase (POD 43%), catalase (CAT 87%), ascorbate peroxidase (APX 75%), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX 40%) and nitrate reductase (NR) significantly increased. Foliar application of TRIA increased total phenolics (23%), total soluble proteins (39%), total free amino acids (51%); activities of POD, GPX and NR (27%, 78% and 24% respectively), and grain nutrition contents, e.g., protein (23%), starch (22%), gluten (10%) and moisture contents (37%) that led to increased growth and arsenic stress tolerance in all three wheat varieties, i.e., Anaj-2017, Ujala-2016 and AARI-2011. From the obtained results it was concluded that foliar application of TRIA (1 µM) can be effective in the induction of arsenic stress tolerance in wheat plants.