Abstract
The environmentally friendly, physical method of high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) was developed to improve the drought and salinity tolerance of two wheat genotypes. Unlike other plasma technologies, HVED treatment involves the discharge of electricity in water. In this study, the effect of HVED pretreatment on wheat germination and early vegetative growth under drought (0%, 15%, 20% and 30% PEG) and salinity (0, 90, 160 and 230 mM NaCl) stress conditions was investigated. HVED-exposed seeds showed altered seed surfaces and became more permeable to water uptake, resulting in higher germination percentages, germination index values, and shoot and root growth under the control and all drought and salinity concentrations. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of the water medium increased significantly, indicating HVED-induced reactions of ionization and dissociations of water molecules occurred. In addition, HVED pretreatment in the salt experiment improved the tolerance index values of the shoots and roots. The most pronounced genotypic variations occurred under the highest stress levels (30% PEG or 230 mM NaCl) and varied with the stress intensity and growth stage. The study results indicate that HVED pretreatment has the potential to improve drought and salt tolerance in wheat.
Highlights
Wheat is considered one of the most important cereals since it represents major staple food for 30% of the world’s population [1]
Our results describe for the first time the effect of high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) on wheat germination and growth under drought and salt stress conditions
A better HVED stimulation effect was achieved in the salt experiment, under which the germination salt tolerance index values and shoots and roots salt tolerance index values were increased
Summary
Wheat is considered one of the most important cereals since it represents major staple food for 30% of the world’s population [1]. It is cultivated all over the world under various climatic and environmental conditions [2]. Many efforts have been made to mitigate the effects of drought and salinity on plant growth and development [5,6]. Since traditional methods for improving germination are not always sustainable, economically acceptable, and ecologically friendly physical methods, such as electric and magnetic field treatments, have the potential to improve plant tolerance for different kinds of environmental stressors. The use of these methods does not involve the presence of chemicals, making them safe for the environment and human health [13,14]
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