Foliar-applied trehalose modulates growth, mineral nutrition, photosynthetic ability, and oxidative defense system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under saline stress

ABSTRACT

A tub experiment was conducted to assess the effect of exogenously applied trehalose (0, 10, and 20 mM) on various attributes of two rice cultivars (Bas-385 and Bas-2000) under salt stress (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM). Salinity decreased growth, gas exchange characteristics, shoot and root potassium (K⁺) ions, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), total soluble proteins, activity of catalase (CAT), and yield attributes, while it increased chlorophyll contents, shoot and root sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺), malondialdehyde (MDA), glycinebetain (GB), free proline, and peroxidase (POD) activity. Foliar-applied trehalose improved growth attributes, net photosynthetic rate, GB, total soluble proteins, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and yield. Yield was not obtained at 150 mM salt stress. The rice cultivar Bas-2000 showed better performance with respect to gas exchange attributes and activities of enzymatic antioxidants. Overall, varying levels of foliar-applied trehalose proved to be effective in ameliorating adverse effects of salt stress on rice.

KEYWORDS:

• antioxidants
• photosynthesis
• rice
• salinity
• trehalose

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan, for providing funds to the current study through the NRPU grant no. 20-1735.