Physiological responses of humic acid-treated rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants at germination under salinity and early seedling growth

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University

2 Biology and Chemistry Department, Al-Qunfodah University College, Umm Al-Qura University

3 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt

Abstract

Salt sensitivity is a critical constraint for growth and productivity of rice, which is generally categorized as a typical glycophyte. In the current study, the effects of salt stress, induced by seawater at concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 12.5%, which are equivalent to EC values of (3.40, 6.77, and 8.00 mS/cm), respectively, on germination and seedling growth of two Egyptian rice cultivars (Giza 177 and Giza 179) were investigated. Also, potential of seed priming with humic acid as a stress-alleviating and growth-promoting agent at appropriate concentrations (40 mg/L for Giza 177 and 100 mg/L for Giza 179) in the two rice cultivars was tested. The results indicated that all seedling germination and growth-related traits such as plumule and radicle length and seedling weight were significantly decreased in response to increasing levels of salt stress. The tested cultivars exhibited interesting and differential responses to salt stress in absence and presence of humic acid. However, humic acid significantly improved the growth responses of the two cultivars via increasing α-amylase activity, photosynthetic pigments, total carbohydrates, and total soluble proteins. These results highlight the potential role of humic acid in improving rice germination and seedling growth in salt-affected lands.

Keywords

Mansoura Journal of Biology
Volume 57, Issue 4
December 2022
Pages 17-27

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