title: Dry Priming of Maize Seeds Reduces Aluminum Stress.
abstract: Aluminum (Al) toxicity is directly related to acidic soils and substantially limits maize yield. Earlier studies using hormones and other substances to treat the seeds of various crops have been carried out with the aim of inducing tolerance to abiotic stress, especially chilling, drought and salinity. However, more studies regarding the effects of seed treatments on the induction of Al tolerance are necessary. In this study, two independent experiments were performed to determine the effect of ascorbic acid (AsA) seed treatment on the tolerance response of maize to acidic soil and Al stress. In the first experiment (greenhouse), the AsA seed treatment was tested in B73 (Al-sensitive genotype). This study demonstrates the potential of AsA for use as a pre-sowing seed treatment (seed priming) because this metabolite increased root and shoot growth under acidic and Al stress conditions. In the second test, the evidence from field experiments using an Al-sensitive genotype (Mo17) and an Al-tolerant genotype (DA) suggested that prior AsA seed treatment increased the growth of both genotypes. Enhanced productivity was observed for DA under Al stress after priming the seeds. Furthermore, the AsA treatment decreased the activity of oxidative stress-related enzymes in the DA genotype. In this study, remarkable effects using AsA seed treatment in maize were observed, demonstrating the potential future use of AsA in seed priming.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Berenice Kussumoto
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Alcântara
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Plant Sciences, Rightmire Hall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Machemer-Noonan
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Francides Gomes
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Silva Júnior
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Antunes
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D055864:Droughts; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005838:Genotype; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008031:Lignin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008031:Lignin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D000535:Aluminum; D001205:Ascorbic Acid