Journal
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Volume 29, Issue 3, Pages 1367-1374Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.01.038
Keywords
Quinoa; Neem extract; Drought tolerance; Antioxidants; Osmoprotectants
Categories
Funding
- King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [RSP-2021/168]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study evaluated the impact of neem leaf extract on drought-stressed quinoa plants. The results showed that water stress negatively affected quinoa growth and chlorophyll pigments, but increased the accumulation of protective substances and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Neem leaf extract improved plant growth and counteracted oxidative damage caused by drought.
The influence of varying concentrations (0, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 % v/v) of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract on drought stressed (40 % field capacity) quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) plants was assessed. During the current study two cultivars of quinoa (V7 and V9) were used. This study revealed that water stress adversely affects the fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots as well as chlorophyll pigments (a and b) of both quinoa cultivars. In contrast, drought stress enhanced glycinebetaine (GB), free proline, phenolic content, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) enzymes, and relative membrane permeability (RMP). However, application of neem leaf extract improved the accumulation of key osmoprotectants like proline, GB and activities of enzymatic antioxidants. Our findings showed 5 % neem leaf extract is an effective treatment in counteracting the oxidative damage caused by water stress, thereby improving overall plant growth. Of both cultivars of quinoa, the response of cv. V9 to stress as well as foliar applied neem was relatively more promising. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available