Exogenously Used 24-Epibrassinolide Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize Hybrids by Improving Plant and Water Productivity in an Arid Environment

• Main Authors: El-Sayed M. Desoky, Elsayed Mansour, Mohamed M. A. Ali, Mohamed A. T. Yasin, Mohamed I. E. Abdul-Hamid, Mostafa M. Rady, Esmat F. Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: irrigation water deficit; brassinosteroids; physiological parameters; water output of yields; yield-contributing traits
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/354

The influence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR₂₄), applied to leaves at a concentration of 5 μM, on plant physio-biochemistry and its reflection on crop water productivity (CWP) and other agronomic traits of six maize hybrids was field-evaluated under semi-arid conditions. Two levels of irrigation water deficiency (IWD) (moderate and severe droughts; 6000 and 3000 m³ water ha^–1, respectively) were applied versus a control (well-watering; 9000 m³ water ha^–1). IWD reduced the relative water content, membrane stability index, photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, and rates of transpiration and net photosynthesis. Conversely, antioxidant enzyme activities and osmolyte contents were significantly increased as a result of the increased malondialdehyde content and electrolyte leakage compared to the control. These negative influences of IWD led to a reduction in CWP and grain yield-related traits. However, EBR₂₄ detoxified the IWD stress effects and enhanced all the above-mentioned parameters. The evaluated hybrids varied in drought tolerance; Giza-168 was the best under moderate drought, while Fine-276 was the best under severe drought. Under IWD, certain physiological traits exhibited a highly positive association with yield and yield-contributing traits or CWP. Thus, exogenously using EBR₂₄ for these hybrids could be an effective approach to improve plant and water productivity under reduced available water in semi-arid environments.