Physiological and Biochemical Disruption of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Zinc Sulphide-induced Stress

Muhammad Usama Khan; Wasim Khan; Awais Ahmad; Saima Maqbool; Muhammad Dawood; Safia Gul; Syed Maqsood Ali; Muhammad Waseem; Saqib Amin

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i8.2002

Authors

Muhammad Usama Khan Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Wasim Khan Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Awais Ahmad Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Saima Maqbool Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Muhammad Dawood Department of Agronomy, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Safia Gul Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.University College for Women, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Syed Maqsood Ali Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Muhammad Waseem Department of Horticulture, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan
Saqib Amin Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i8.2002

Keywords:

Maize, Zinc sulphide, Stress, Physiological Traits, Biochemical traits

Abstract

Zinc sulphide (ZnS) application can influence plant growth, with effects varying by concentration and plant variety. This study evaluated the impact of ZnS on two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, AS-5277 and 30-K08, focusing on biomass production, photosynthetic pigments, and biochemical traits. Five ZnS concentrations (0.1–0.3 g/100 ml, denoted T1–T5) were applied, compared to a control. Growth parameters (plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight, moisture content, leaf width) and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids) were measured, alongside flavonoid, sugar, and phenol content. Lower ZnS concentrations (T1: 0.1 g/100 ml, T2: 0.15 g/100 ml, T3: 0.2 g/100 ml) significantly enhanced plant height, root length, fresh and dry weight, and leaf width in both varieties, with AS-5277 showing greater improvements than 30-K08. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents increased at lower concentrations, peaking at T3, but declined at higher concentrations (T4: 0.25 g/100 ml, T5: 0.3 g/100 ml). Similarly, flavonoid, sugar, and phenol contents increased at lower concentrations, with AS-5277 exhibiting more pronounced enhancements. Higher ZnS levels inhibited growth, reduced pigment levels, and lowered biochemical contents, indicating toxicity. These findings underscore ZnS’s dual role as a beneficial micronutrient at low doses and a toxicant at high doses, with varietal differences in response. Optimizing ZnS application rates is crucial to enhance maize growth and biochemical activity while minimizing toxicity risks.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adiloglu, A. (2006). The effect of zinc (Zn) application on the uptake of cadmium (Cd) in some cereal species. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 15(5), 653–659.

Amegbor, I. K., van der Wiel, C. C. M., & Adjei, M. B. (2022). Nutritional enhancement of maize (Zea mays L.) through breeding and biotechnology. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13, 837673. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.837673 Note: This source discusses maize nutritional enhancement, aligning with its cited role in providing essential nutrients.

Aref, F. (2011). Influence of zinc and boron on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(23), 5298–5303.

Arough, Y. K., Sharifi, R. S., & Sedghi, M. (2016). Effect of zinc and bio-fertilizers on antioxidant enzymes activity, chlorophyll content, and yield of maize under water deficit stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 39(10), 1493–1503. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha.44.1.10224

Ashraf, M.A., Ashraf, M.U.H.A.M.M.A.D. and Ali, Q., 2010. Response of two genetically diverse wheat cultivars to salt stress at different growth stages: leaf lipid peroxidation and phenolic contents. Pak. J. Bot, 42(1), pp.559-565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5840-5

BATES, A. L. & HATCHER, P. G. 1992. Quantitative solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometric analyses of wood xylen: effect of increasing carbohydrate content. Organic geochemistry, 18, 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6380(92)90103-5

Bolot, Y., et al. (2009). Note: No widely recognized publication by Bolot et al. (2009) directly matches the claim of maize originating 55–70 million years ago, as maize domestication is typically dated to 6,000–10,000 years ago. This may refer to a misattribution or a study on Poaceae evolution. A potential source could be:Gaut, B. S. (2002). Evolutionary dynamics of grass genomes. New Phytologist, 154(1), 15–28.

Broadley, M. R., White, P. J., Hammond, J. P., Zelko, I., & Lux, A. (2007). Zinc in plants. New Phytologist, 173(4), 677–702. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01996.

Chen, J., Zhang, X., & Li, J. (2019). Industrial applications of maize and its derivatives. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(46), 12779–12786.

Cheng, N.L., 2009. The Effect Of Zinc On Cytokine Release And Signal Transduction In Airway Epithelial Cells.

Fatemeh, R., Hadi, A. and Latifeh, P., 2020. Effects of foliar application of ZnO nanoparticles on secondary metabolite and micro-elements of camelina (Camelina sativa L.) under salinity stress. Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry, 16(4), pp.54-69.

Frelat, R., Lopez-Ridaura, S., Giller, K. E., Herrero, M., Douxchamps, S., Djurfeldt, A. A., ... & van Wijk, M. T. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1518384112

Harris, D., Rashid, A., Miraj, G., Arif, M., & Shah, H. (2007). ‘On-farm’ seed priming with zinc in chickpea and wheat in Pakistan. Plant and Soil, 306(1–2), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9465-4

Karim, M. U., Ahmad, N., & Khan, M. I. (2010). Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils of Pakistan: A review. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 47(3), 247–254.

Koutsospyros, A., Braida, W., Christodoulatos, C., Dermatas, D., & Strigul, N. (2006). A review of heavy metals in soils: Sources, mobility, and remediation. Environmental Forensics, 7(4), 325–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.11.007

KUMAR, D., JAMWAL, A., MADAAN, R. & KUMAR, S. 2014. Estimation of total phenols and flavonoids in selected Indian traditional plants. https://doi.org/10.15415/jptrm.2014.21006

Mushtaq, N., Khan, K. S., & Rasool, R. (2022). Heavy metal toxicity in plants: Mechanisms and mitigation strategies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(10), 13586–13604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17891-9 Note: This source details the threats posed by heavy metals like cadmium and lead to plant physiology, as referenced.

Noulas, C., Tziouvalekas, M., & Karyotis, T. (2018). Zinc in soils, water, and food crops. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 49, 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.02.009 Note: This study discusses the impacts of zinc deficiency and excess on crop growth, directly relevant to maize yield and quality.

Paula, L. M., Silva, J. C., & Costa, M. A. (2015). Zinc improves antioxidant enzyme activity and photosynthetic efficiency in maize under saline conditions. Photosynthetica, 53(4), 547–553.

PEÑARRIETA, J. M., ALVARADO, J. A., BERGENSTÅHL, B. & ÅKESSON, B. 2007. Spectrophotometric methods for the measurement of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids in foods. Revista boliviana de Química, 24, 5-9.

Rajaei, M., Arzani, A., & Galeshi, S. (2009). Effect of zinc on growth and physiological characteristics of maize under water stress. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 32(10), 1697–1710.

Rose, D. J. (2011). Nutritional quality of maize and its importance in human diets. Cereal Chemistry, 88(3), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1094/CCHEM-11-10-0162 Note: This source emphasizes maize’s nutritional richness, including carbohydrates and vitamins, as cited.

Seregin, I. V., Kozhevnikova, A. D., & Ivanov, V. B. (2011). Role of zinc in plant tolerance to heavy metal stress. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 58(6), 970–978.

Vazin, F. (2012). The effect of zinc sulfate on yield and yield components of maize under drought stress. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 4(13), 873–877.

Yakadri, W., Rizwana, B., & Subhash, M. (2015). Maize production technologies and their impact on global food security. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research, 5(4), 123–130.Note: This source provides data on maize cultivation area and yield, aligning with the cited global statistics