Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Fatemeh Aghaei ¹
• Raouf Seyed Sharifi ²
• Salim Farzaneh ³

¹ Ph.D Student, Department of Plant Production and Genetic, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

² Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetic, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetic, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Water limitation is one of the most important abiotic factors that can limit plant growth and yield due to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like H2O2 and the reduction of chlorophyll content. To protect against oxidative stress, plant cells produce both antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX), and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as low weight molecules like proline, sugars and ascorbate. Also water limitation disturbs the mineral-nutrient relations in plants through their effects on nutrient availability and numerous of physiological and biochemical destruction in the vegetative and reproductive periods of plant development. Several strategies have been suggested in order to improve yield under abiotic and biotic stresses in plants, among them application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and nano particles such as nano iron-silicon oxide play a key role in yield improvement. A better understanding of physiological responses under water limitation may help in programs which the objective is to improve the drouht resistance of crop. During the course of these stresses, active solute accumulation of compatible solutes such as proline and the activities CAT, POD and PPO enzymes are claimed to be an effective stress tolerance mechanism. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bio-fertilizers and nano iron oxide and nano oxide on some physiological and biochemical (i.e., antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll, protein, soluble sugars and proline) responses of triticale under water limitation conditions.
Materials and methods
An experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replicates at the research farm of faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2021. The experimental factors were included of irrigation in three levels (full irrigation as control, irrigation withholding at 50% of booting and heading stages as severe and moderate water limitation respectively (BBCH 43 and 55 respectively), application of bio fertilizers in four levels (no application as control, application of Azospirilum, Pseudomonas, both application Azospirilum and Pseudomonas) and nanoparticles foliar application at four levels (foliar application with water as control, nano iron oxide foliar application (1 g.L^-1), nano silicon oxide (50 mg.L^-1), both application nano iron-silicon oxide). Psedomunas and Azospirilum were isolated from the rhizospheres of wheat by Research Institute of Soil and Water, Tehran, Iran. For inoculation seeds were coated with gum Arabic as an adhesive and rolled into the suspension of bacteria until uniformly coated. The strains and cell densities of microorganisms used as PGPR in this experiment were 1×108 colony forming units (CFU). In each plot there were 5 rows with 2 m long. In each experimental plot, two marginal rows and 0.5 m from beginning and ending of planting lines were removed data were measured from the middle lines. The used nano silicon-iron oxide had the average particle size less than 30 nm and special surface of particles was more than 30 m².g^-1. They were product of Nanomaterial US Research which was provided by Pishgaman Nanomaterials Company of Iran. Nano iron oxide and nano silicon powder added to deionized water and was placed on ultra sonic equipment (100 W and 40 kHz) on a shaker for better solution. Foliar application of nano silicon oxide and putrecine were done in two stages of period growth BBCH 21 and 30.
Results and discussion
The results showed that total chlorophyll content (48.16%), quantum yield (36.05%), relative water content (35.83%) and grain yield (43.28%) increased in dual application of bio fertilizers and nano particles foliar application under full irrigation conditions compared to no application of bio fertilizers and nano particles under irrigation cut off at booting stage. But under such conditions, electrical conductivity, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content decreased 35.67, 53.16 and 56.32% respectively compared to no application of PGPR and nanoparticles under irrigation withholding in booting stage. Also, the application of PGPR and nanoparticles under irrigation cut off in booting stage increased the activity of catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes (47.06, 55.69 and 36.53% respectively), proline and soluble sugars content (45.41 and 46.93% respectively) compared to no application of PGPR and nanoparticles under full irrigation conditions.
Conclusion
Based on the results of this study, the application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and nonoparticle can increase grain yield of triticale under water limitation conditions due to improving biochemical and physiological traits.

Keywords

• Antioxidant enzymes
• Compatible osmolytes
• Nano iron oxide
• Pseudomonas
• Relative water content

Main Subjects

• Drought stress