Abstract
The impacts of low temperature occasionally encountered at higher latitude regions on maize seed germination present significant threats to yield and cultivation. Exploring the association of antioxidant system with low temperature (LT) germination could support the breeding strategies for better responding to LT disturbance. In this study, we have examined the germination rate and growth potential of a set of elite maize inbred accessions under LT and normal temperature (NT) conditions in the field. These accessions were found to have variable germination rate and growth potential when grown at LT, whereas the difference is not significant under NT. Physiological study revealed lower hydrogen peroxide content in LT tolerant accessions when compared with sensitive ones. LT-tolerant and LT-sensitive lines maintained similar content of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), whereas the reduced substrate content of which were significantly higher in LT-tolerant accessions. Consistently, activities of ascorbate peroxidase and dehydroascorbate reductase, the enzyme components that responsible for the AsA-GSH recycling, were much higher in LT-tolerant lines. Transcription profile revealed the increased expression of ZmVTC2 gene in LT-tolerant inbred line, which was rate limited step in AsA biosynthesis. These data indicates that the coordinated improvement of AsA biosynthesis and AsA-GSH recycling increase the pool size of the total antioxidants, which ameliorate LT-induced oxidative stress during maize seed germination.
Highlights
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops with the largest yield and acreage in the world
Since maize originated from tropical and subtropical regions, the plant is sensitive to low temperature (LT), mainly during germination and post-germinative growth period [1,2]
Selection of elite maize inbred accessions should take into account the seed germination and postgerminative growth potential under LT stress
Summary
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important agricultural crops with the largest yield and acreage in the world. Since maize originated from tropical and subtropical regions, the plant is sensitive to low temperature (LT), mainly during germination and post-germinative growth period [1,2]. The agricultural praxis is to sow maize when the soil temperature is approximately above 10 ◦ C. 10 ◦ C, seed germination and post-germinative growth are significantly inhibited, that result to the reduction of crop yield [3,4]. Periods of LT occasionally encountered at higher latitudes regions significantly threaten maize cultivation. Selection of elite maize inbred accessions should take into account the seed germination and postgerminative growth potential under LT stress
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