Abstract
AbstractCowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is an important legume well grown in semiarid and arid environment. Hydrogen peroxide solutions (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mM) have been used to optimize growth and photosynthetic performance of cowpea plant at two growth stages [30 and 45 DAS (days of sowing)]. Foliar application of H2O2 at 0.5 > 1.0 mM solution at 29 DAS optimally promoted the photosynthetic attributes [leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (PN), water use efficiency, and maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm)] and growth performance [root and shoot length; fresh and dry weight] of plants where the responses were more significant at the later growth stage. It was favored by activity of enzymes as carbonic anhydrase [CA; E.C. 4.2.1.1] and nitrate reductase [NR, E.C. 1.6.6.1] and those of antioxidant enzymes viz. peroxidase [POX; EC 1.11.1.7], catalase [CAT; EC 1.11.1.6], and superoxide dismutase [SOD; EC 1.15.1.1] and leaf proline content. Strengthened root system and antioxidant activity, pa...
Highlights
Legumes are the members of family Leguminaceae, which are important grain yielding plants after Gramineae
The experimental results suggested that H2O2 treatment increased the plant growth parameters at 45 days of sowing (DAS) when sprayed at 29 DAS on foliage
Li, Bi, and Yue (2011) suggested that H2O2 metabolism in wheat seedling was involved as a signal in the processes of laser-induced water acclimation, the osmo-protective effect they related with NADPH oxidasedependent H2O2 production
Summary
Legumes are the members of family Leguminaceae, which are important grain yielding plants after Gramineae. Besides most important staple food crop worldwide, legumes are ecologically important due to their ability to fix nitrogen in soil. Herbaceous legume crops are important source of nitrogenrich vegetables and pulses in diet. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.; Walp) is an important leafy summer vegetable used for both grains and leaves. It is tolerant to drought and heat conditions, are successful under arid and semiarid conditions. Grains production of legumes, including cowpeas are greatly sensitized by the native abiotic stresses including heavy metal stress, salinity, and high temperature, registering yield output below the genetic potential of the plants
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