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Khurshid N, Bukhari MA, Ahmad T, Ahmad Z, Jatoi WN, Abbas SM, Latif A, Raza A, Aurangzaib M, Hashem A, Avila-Quezada GD, Abd Allah EF. Exogenously applied nicotinic acid alleviates drought stress by enhancing morpho-physiological traits and antioxidant defense mechanisms in wheat. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2023; 263:115350. [PMID: 37586200 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Across the globe, the frequent occurrence of drought spells has significantly undermined the sustainability of modern high-input farming systems, particularly those focused on staple crops like wheat. To ameliorate the deleterious impacts of drought through a biologically viable and eco-friendly approach, a study was designed to explore the effect of nicotinic acid on different metabolic, and biochemical processes, growth and yield of wheat under optimal moisture and drought stress (DS). The current study was comprised of different levels of nicotinic acid applied as foliar spray (0 g L-1, 0.7368, 1.477, 2.2159 g L-1) and fertigation (0.4924, 0.9848, and 1.4773 g L-1) under normal conditions and imposed drought by withholding water at anthesis stage. The response variables were morphological traits such as roots and shoots characteristics, yield attributes, grain and biological yields along with biosynthesis of antioxidants. The results revealed that nicotinic acid dose of 2.2159 g L-1 out-performed rest of treatments under both normal and DS. The same treatment resulted in the maximum root growth (length, fresh and dry weights, surface area, diameter) and shoot traits (length, fresh and dry weights) growth. Additionally, foliar applied nicotinic acid (2.2159 g L-1) also produced as the highest spike length, grains spike-1, spikelet's spike-1 and weight of 1000 grains. Moreover, these better yield attributes led to significantly higher grain yield and biological productivity of wheat. Likewise in terms of physiological growth of wheat under DS, the same treatment remained superior by recording the highest SPAD value, relative water content, water potential of leaves, leaf area, stomatal conductance (292 mmolm-2S-1), internal carbon dioxide concentration, photosynthesis and transpiration rate. Interestingly, exogenously applied nicotinic acid remained effective in triggering the antioxidant system of wheat by recording significantly higher catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouman Khurshid
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Adnan Bukhari
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Tanveer Ahmad
- Department of Horticulture, MNS University of Agriculture Multan, 59300, Pakistan
| | - Zahoor Ahmad
- Department of Botany, University of Central Punjab, Constituent Punjab College, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan.
| | - Wajid Nasim Jatoi
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Syed Mohsin Abbas
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab Lahore, 54590, Pakistan
| | - Amir Latif
- Scientific Officer, Vegetable Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Amber Raza
- Department of Botany, Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aurangzaib
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Elsayed Fathi Abd Allah
- Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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