TITLE:
Genotypic Variations in Phenolic, Flavonoids and Their Antioxidant Activities in Maize Plants Treated with Zn (II) HEDTA Grown in Salinized Media
AUTHORS:
Zeinab A. Salama, Alaa A. Gaafar, Mohamed M. El Fouly
KEYWORDS:
Salinity, Phenolics, Flavonoids, Zn (II) HEDTA, Maize Crosses
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: Zinc (Zn (II) HEDTA)
was used to determine their effect on salt-induced damages in maize plants. The
aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and the levels of
enhanced total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC) contents and their
antioxidant activity in leaves of two maize cultivars Single cross 10 (SC10) and
Single cross 162 (SC162) grown in two levels of salinity 0.00 and 100 mmol in
response to 20 μmol Zn (II) HEDTA foliar spray treatments. Significant differences
(P ≤ 0.05) in amounts of TPC ranged from (2.55 to 4.62
mg/gdw as Gallic) in Single cross 10 (SC10) and from (2.53 to 4.38 mg/gdw as Gallic) in Single cross 162
(SC162), TFC (ranged 1.53 to 2.41 mg/gdw as qurestien) in Single cross
10 (SC10) and from (1.28 to 2.41 mg/gdw as qurestien) in Single cross 162 (SC162)
among all treated plants were observed. The levels of their compounds increase
related to foliar spraying of Zn (II) HEDTA. A significant positive correlation
between TPC, TFC and DPPH scavenging activity and iron chelating activity was
observed which shows that phenolic compounds were involved in the mechanism of
salt tolerance of the two cultivars by showing enhanced antioxidant activity
which resulted in reduced membrane damage and hence improved growth. According
to the results obtained, the adverse effects of salt stress on maize plants can
partly be alleviated with application of Zn (II)-HEDTA chelates. It is
concluded that the application of Zn (II) HEDTA to maize plants grown in salt
conditions leads to the increase of antioxidant compounds and maize tolerance.