Maize seed coatings and seedling sprayings with chitosan and hydrogen peroxide: their influence on some phenological and biochemical behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of chitosan (CH) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) seed coatings and seedling sprinklings on two different maize varieties by measuring their phenology, the H(2)O(2) presence, the catalase (CAT) activity, and the protein quantity.


METHODS
Seven groups of ten seeds for each maize variety were treated with CH (2% (20 g/L) and 0.2% (2 g/L)) or H(2)O(2) (8 mmol/L) by coating, sprinkling, or both. Germination and seedling growth were measured. One month after germination, the presence of H(2)O(2) in seedlings in the coated seed treatments was evaluated. Protein content and CAT activity were determined under all treatments.


RESULTS
H(2)O(2) seed coating enhanced the germination rate and increased seedling and stem length in the quality protein maize (QPM) variety. Seedlings had a higher emergence velocity under this treatment in both varieties. CH and H(2)O(2) sprinklings did not have an effect on seedling phenology. Exogenous application of H(2)O(2) promoted an increase of endogenous H(2)O(2). CH and H(2)O(2) seedling sprinkling increased the protein content in both maize varieties, while there was no significant effect on the CAT activity of treated seeds and seedlings.


CONCLUSIONS
CH and H(2)O(2) enhance some phenological and biochemical features of maize depending on their method of application.
Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Campo 1, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Estado de México 54740, México.
Eva-Guadalupe
EG
Lizárraga-Paulín
Susana-Patricia
SP
Miranda-Castro
Ernesto
E
Moreno-Martínez
Alma-Virginia
AV
Lara-Sagahón
Irineo
I
Torres-Pacheco
D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D010940:Plant Proteins; D048271:Chitosan; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide