Abstract
ABSTRACT Cowpea is one of the major food crops in Northeast Brazil, where it is commonly cultivated in the semi-arid regions with limited water availability. It is important to study the elicitors associated with cowpea to mitigate any deleterious effects of abiotic stress on the initial establishment of this crop. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the morphophysiological changes in cowpea cultivars under osmotic stress with seeds soaked in salicylic acid. The germination test was conducted in B.O.D germination chambers. The seeds of three cowpea cultivars: BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Aracê, and BRS Guariba, were germinated at five osmotic potentials (0.0; -0.2; -0.4; -0.6, and -0.8 MPa) after three pre-treatments: pre-soaking in deionized water, pre-soaking in salicylic acid, and without pre-soaking. The following parameters were evaluated: germination, germination speed index, seedling height, total phytomass, contents of chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’, carotenoid content, electrolyte leakage, water content, and proline content. Our results indicate that salicylic acid promotes reduction in the harmful effects of abiotic stress, which is reflected in the increase in germination percentage, seedling height, and chlorophyll and carotenoid content as well as in the adjustment of electrolyte leakage and increase in proline content under induced water stress conditions. The cultivar BRS Guariba proved to be more tolerant to water deficit during germination and initial growth stages, when the seeds were treated with salicylic acid (1 mM).
Highlights
IntroductionIt has high nutritional value due to the presence of various minerals and vitamins as well as the seeds’ high protein content of up to 25% (AGBICODO et al, 2009)
This study aimed to evaluate the morphophysiological alterations in cowpea cultivars under osmotic stress and with seeds soaked in salicylic acid
The treatments were prepared using the 3 × 3 × 5 factorial design and included seeds of three cowpea cultivars (BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Aracê, and BRS Guariba) subjected to three conditions before sowing: NS = no soaking, SA = soaking in salicylic acid (1.0 mM), and DW = soaking in deionized water
Summary
It has high nutritional value due to the presence of various minerals and vitamins as well as the seeds’ high protein content of up to 25% (AGBICODO et al, 2009). These characteristics make cowpea an important food crop for human consumption; it is prone to harm caused by drought and extreme temperatures. Under extreme water deficit conditions, cowpea plants exhibit production of antioxidants and cellular osmotic adjustment through the accumulation of compatible solutes in the cytosol (SHARMA et al, 2012), other than the reduction in leaf area and leaf water potential, stomatal closure, photosynthetic inhibition, and stunted root system growth (TAIZ; ZEIGER, 2013). Major elicitors include organic acids, such as salicylic, ascorbic, jasmonic, and citric acid
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
