Salicylic acid and H2O2 seed priming alleviates Fe deficiency through the modulation of growth, root acidification capacity and photosynthetic performance in Sulla carnosa

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 159; pp. 392 - 399
• Main Authors: Jelali, Nahida, Ben Youssef, Rim, Boukari, Nadia, Zorrig, Walid, Dhifi, Wissal, Abdelly, Chedly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01-02-2021
• Subjects: Fe deficiency; Growth; Hydrogen peroxide; Photosynthetic activity; Priming seeds; Salicylic acid; Sulla carnosa; Salicylic acid; A; Hydrogen peroxide; Photosynthetic activity; Growth; E; CHL; WUE; H2O2; Gs; Priming seeds; SA; CAR; Fe deficiency; ROS; IWUE; Sulla carnosa
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.11.039

Iron (Fe) is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth which is involved in several physiological functions. Hence, there are intensive efforts to improve plant tolerance to Fe deficiency, by genotypic screening and by the use of adapted physiological tools. The intend of the current study was to explore the seed priming effect with salicylic acid (SA 0.25 mM) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 20 mM), either separately applied or combined, on plant growth, nutritional elements status (Fe and potassium K), root acidification and photosynthetic activity in two S. carnosa cultivars (Sidi Khlif and Kalbia) with different tolerance to such constraint. Under unprimed conditions, Fe deficiency decreased plant growth, chlorophyll concentration, in addition to Fe and K contents. Moreover, it affected the photosynthetic activity by inhibiting the net CO2 assimilation rate and increasing the transpiration rate of both cultivars, following a reduced water use efficiency. The changes above described were much less pronounced in Sidi Khlif than in Kalbia. The stomatal conductance increased in Fe-deficient leaves of both cultivars, suggesting that the photosynthesis impairment should be attributed to non-stomatal factors. Interestingly, priming seeds with both agents significantly improved the growth performance and the rhizosphere acidification of deficient S. carnosa plants. However, the D + SA + H2O2 treatment had the most beneficial effect on S. carnosa plant growth. The degree of this stimulation may vary depending on the cultivar, the tissue and the priming agent applied. This could be owing to the photosynthetic performance modulation, leading to more efficient nutrient uptake.
•Metal deficiency impacts in plants.•Physiological responses of plants to Fe deficiency.•Improvement of plant's productivity by the use of adapted physiological tools.•Priming seeds of leguminous species.•Photosynthetic activity.