Effect of foliar application of naphthalene-acetic acid on physiological properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under deficit irrigation conditions

Arazm, Sakineh; Barzegar, Taher; Nikbakht, Jaefar; Khani, Arezoo

doi:10.22034/iuvs.2024.2041200.1386

Effect of foliar application of naphthalene-acetic acid on physiological properties and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under deficit irrigation conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sakineh Arazm ¹

Taher Barzegar ²

Jaefar Nikbakht ³

Arezoo Khani ⁴

¹ Master's student, Dept. of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

² Associate Prof., Dept. of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

³ Associate Prof., Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

⁴ Ph.D. student, Dept. of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

10.22034/iuvs.2024.2041200.1386

Abstract

1.      Introduction: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important horticultural crops in the world and especially in Iran. In arid and semi-arid regions, water deficit stress is a major limiting factor for crop growth and yield. Increases in water scarcity with climate change reduce plant growth and development, thereby decreasing plant production in agricultural systems. Due to their high leaf area/root ratio and high transpiration rate, cucumber plants are sensitive to water-deficit stress. It is well known that water deficit causes oxidative stress by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in different cellular organelles, thus affecting membrane stability, lipid peroxidation, and other biological and physiological processes. Various agricultural methods are used to increase plant resistance to environmental stresses. Auxin is one of the important plant growth regulators that play multiple physiological roles in promoting cell elongation and division, seed germination, fruit development, and plant stress responses. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) has frequently been demonstrated to enhance growth parameters and productivity in vegetable and other crops. From this standpoint, this research was conducted to study the effect of foliar spraying with different concentrations of NAA on the physiological properties and fruit yield of cucumber under water deficit stress.

2.      Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the Agriculture Faculty (University of Zanjan, Iran) in 2023 using a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The experimental treatments consisted of three different irrigation regimes (70, 85, and 100% ETc) as the main plot and foliar spray of NAA at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mg L^-1) as a sub-plot. Kish F1 hybrid cucumber seeds (US Agriseeds Company) were sown at a distance of 50 cm in rows and 120 cm between rows. Different levels of NAA foliar spraying started at 45^th true leaf stage and were repeated two times with an interval of 15 days using a mechanical mist sprayer. Irrigation was calculated based on actual evapotranspiration (ETc%) rates. All necessary management practices, such as weed control, were performed according to the recommended package of practices during crop growth. During the growth period and after crop harvest, fruit yield, chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), proline, phenolic compounds, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), H₂O₂ contents, and antioxidant enzyme activity were evaluated.

3.      Results and Discussion: Drought affects all aspects of plant physiology, including a reduction of photosynthesis rate and overproduction of reactive oxygen species, resulting in retarded plant growth and significant crop losses. The results showed that deficit irrigation significantly increased the proline content, ion leakage, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. In contrast, deficit irrigation reduced leaf RWC, chlorophyll content, and fruit yield. Foliar application of NAA improved the fruit yield with increasing chlorophyll and proline contents, leaf relative water content, and antioxidant enzyme activity, and decreasing ion leakage, MDA, and H₂O₂ accumulation. Plants have developed an antioxidant defense system that consists of enzymatic (SOD, CAT, POX, etc.) and non-enzymatic (ascorbate, phenolics, proline, etc.) components, which change significantly in response to different stresses, including drought. It was reported that after moderate or severe drought, proline content increased to a different extent in maize hybrids depending on their tolerance. The accumulation of proline under water deficit conditions could contribute to a plant’s drought tolerance or could be a stress-injury indicator depending on plant species and the severity of the stress. According to the results, the highest chlorophyll content (2.25 mg g^-1FW) and fruit yield (42693.7 kg ha^-1) were obtained with the application of NAA 50 mg L^-1 under irrigation 100 ETc%. Also, the maximum RWC, and minimum ion leakage, MDA, and H₂O₂ accumulation were obtained in the plant treated with NAA 100 mg L^-1 under irrigation 100 ETc%. The highest value of superoxide dismutase activity (1.67 U mg^-¹protein) and proline content was observed in irrigation 50 ETc% with application of NAA 100 and 50 mg L^-1, respectively. The preliminary application of auxin compounds before drought treatment led to the adjustment of CAT and POX activities, and also suggested that the auxin compounds play an essential role in balancing H₂O₂ levels.

4.      Conclusion: According to the results of the experiment, it can be stated that the cucumber plant is a sensitive plant to water deficit stress. Under water deficit, fruit yield decreased. Finally, NAA increased the yield by modulating the negative effects of water deficit stress in cucumber plants. Therefore, according to the results, application of NAA 50 mg L^-1 can be proposed to improve the growth and yield of cucumber under normal and deficit irrigation conditions.

Keywords

Antioxidant enzymes

Electrolyte leakage

Fruit yield

Proline

Relative water content

Alexieva, V., Sergiev, I., Mapelli, S. & Karanov, E. (2001). The effect of drought and ultraviolet radiation on growth and stress markers in pea and wheat. Plant, Cell & Environment, 24(12), 1337-1344. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3040.2001.00778.x

Alotaibi, M. M., El Nagy, M. M., Almuziny, M., Alsubeie, M. S., Abo-Zeid, A. A., Alzuaibr, F. M., Alasmari, A., Albalawi, B. F., Abd-Elwahed, A. H. M. & Awad-Allah, M. M. (2024). The effect of foliar application with naphthalene acetic acid and potassium nitrate on the growth, sex ratio, and productivity of cucumbers (Cucumis sativas L.) under high temperatures in semi-arid Areas. Agronomy, 14(6), 1202.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061202

Arnon, A. N. (1967). Method of extraction of chlorophyll in the plants. Agronomy journal, 23, 112-121.

Bates, L. W., Aldren, R. P. & Teare, I. D. (1973). Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant and Soil, 39, 205-207.

Begum, N., Ahanger, M. A. & Zhang, L. (2020). AMF inoculation and phosphorus supplementation alleviate drought-induced growth and photosynthetic decline in Nicotiana tabacum by up-regulating antioxidant metabolism and osmolyte accumulation. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 176, 104088.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2020.104088

Casanova-Sáez, R., Mateo-Bonmatí, E. & Ljung, K. (2021). Auxin metabolism in plants. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 13(3), a039867.‏ https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a03987

Caverzan, A., Casassola, A. & Brammer, S. P. (2016). Antioxidant responses of wheat plants under stress. Genetics and Molecular Biology, 39(1), 1-6.‏ https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-GMB2015-0109

Chen, J. Y., He, L. H., Jiang, Y. M., Wang, Y., Joyce, D. C., Ji, Z. L. & Lu, W. J. (2008). Role of phenylalanine ammonialyase in heat pretreatment‐induced chilling tolerance in banana fruit. Physiologia Plantarum, 132(3), 318-328.‏ https://doi.org/10.1111/j.13993054.2007.01013

Drobek, M., Frąc, M. & Cybulska, J. (2019). Plant biostimulants: Importance of the quality and yield of horticultural crops and the improvement of plant tolerance to abiotic stress. A review. Agronomy, 9(6), 335.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060335

Eliyasi Moghaddam, M., Barzegar, T. & Ghahremani, Z. (2015). Effect of foliar application of naphthalene acetic acid and plant thinning on growth, yield and fruit quality of melon (Cucumis melo cv. Khatooni). Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science, 46(3), 467-474. (In Persian) https://doi.org/10.22059/ijhs.2015.55866

Farhangpour, M., Barzegar, T., Nekounam, F. & Nikbakht, J. (2023). Growth, physiological responses and water use efficiency of eggplant to foliar spray of L-cysteine and calcium lactate under deficit irrigation condition. Journal of Vegetables Sciences, 13(1), 01-22. (In Persian) https://doi.org/10.22034/IUVS.2022.561148.1232

Farouk, S., & Omar, M. M. (2020). Sweet basil growth, physiological and ultrastructural modification, and oxidative defense system under water deficit and silicon forms treatment. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 39, 1307-1331.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10071-x

Ghassemi, A., Farzaneh, S., Moharramnejad, S., Raisi Sadati, S.Y., Sharifi, R. & Taleschian Tabrizi, N. (2025). Evaluation of the effect of ascorbic acid foliar spraying on sweet corn under water stress. Journal of Vegetables Sciences, 17(1), 21-42. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/iuvs.2024.1978441.1255

Ghahremani, Z., Mikaealzadeh, M., Barzegar, T. & Ranjbar, M. E. (2021). Foliar application of ascorbic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid can improve important traits of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus cv. Us) under deficit irrigation. Healthy Plants, 73, 77-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-020-00530-6

‏Giannopolitis, C. N. & Ries, S. K. (1977). Superoxide dismutases: I. Occurrence in higher plants. Plant physiology, 59(2), 309-314.‏ https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.59.2.309

González-Villagra, J., Rodrigues-Salvador, A., Nunes-Nesi, A., Cohen, J. D. & Reyes-Díaz, M. M. (2018). Age-related mechanisms and its relationship with secondary metabolism and abscisic acid in Aristotelia chilensis plants subjected to drought stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 124, 136-145.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.01.010

Hannachi, S., Signore, A., Adnan, M. & Mechi, L. (2022). Single and associated effects of drought and heat stresses on physiological, biochemical and antioxidant machinery of four eggplant cultivars. Plants, 11, 2404. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182404

Khandani, Y., Sarikhani, H., Gholami, M., Rad, A. C., Yousefi, S., Sodini, M. & Sivilotti, P. (2024). Exogenous auxin improves the growth of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) under drought stress by mediating physiological, biochemical and hormonal modifications. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 24, 3422–3440.‏

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-024-01765-2

Khani, A., Barzegar, T., Nikbakht, J. & Ghahremani, Z. (2020). Effect of foliar spray of calcium lactate on the growth, yield and biochemical attributes of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under water deficit stress. Advances in Horticultural Science, 34(1), 11-24.‏ https://doi.org/10.13128/ahsc-8252

Lum, J. A., Conti-Ramsden, G., Morgan, A. T. & Ullman, M. T. (2014). Procedural learning deficits in specific language impairment (SLI): A meta-analysis of serial reaction time task performance. Cortex, 51, 1-10.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2013.10.011

Ma, Q. Q., Wang, W., Li, Y. H., Li, D. Q. & Zou, Q. (2006). Alleviation of photoinhibition in drought-stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum) by foliar-applied glycinebetaine. Journal of plant physiology, 163(2), 165-175.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2005.04.023

Mahdavian, M., Sarikhani, H., Hadadinejad, M. & Dehestani, A. (2021). Exogenous application of putrescine positively enhances the drought stress response in two citrus rootstocks by increasing expression of stress-related genes. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 21(3), 1934-1948.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-021-00491-3

Mahmoodnia, M., Farsi, M., Marashi, S. H. & Ebadi, P. (2013). Physiological responses to drought stress in four species of tomato.‏ Journal Of Horticultural Science, 26(4): 409-416. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22067/jhorts4.v0i0.18252

Maluleke, M. K. (2022). Metabolite profile of African horned cucumber (Cucumis metuliferus E. May. Ex Naudin) fruit grown under differing environmental conditions. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 3722.‏ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07769-1

Mansori, K., Shiravand, N., Shadmani, F. K., Moradi, Y., Allahmoradi, M., Ranjbaran, M., ... & Valipour, M. (2019). Association between depression with glycemic control and its complications in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 13(2), 1555-1560.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2019.02.010

Meng, S., Zhang, C., Su, L., Li, Y. & Zhao, Z. (2016). Nitrogen uptake and metabolism of Populus simonii in response to PEG-induced drought stress. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 123, 78-87.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2015.11.005

Metwaly, E. S. E., Al-Yasi, H. M., Ali, E. F., Farouk, H. A. & Farouk, S. (2022). Deteriorating harmful effects of drought in cucumber by spraying glycinebetaine. Agriculture, 12(12), 2166.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122166

Maboko, M. M., Du Plooy, C. P., & Chiloane, S. (2012). Effect of plant population, stem and flower pruning on hydroponically grown sweet pepper in a shadenet structure. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7 (11), 1742-1748.‏ https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR11.2078

Nasrabadi, H. N., Nemati, H., Kafi, M. & Arouei, H. (2015). Effect of foliar application with salicylic acid on two Iranian melons (Cucumis melo L.) under water deficit. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10 (33), 3305-3309. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2015.10057‏

Sridhar, G., Koti, R. V., Chetti, M. B. & Hiremath, S. M. (2009). Effect of naphthalene acetic acid and mipiquat chloride on physiological components of yield in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Journal of Agricultural Research, 47(1), 53-62.‏

Nguyen, T. B. T., Ketsa, S. & Van Doorn, W. G. (2003). Relationship between browning and the activities of polyphenoloxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase in banana peel during low temperature storage. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 30(2), 187-193.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5214(03)00 103-0

Noor, A., Ziaf, K., Amjad, M. & Ahmad, I. (2020). Synthetic auxins concentration and application time modulate seed yield and quality of carrot by altering the umbel order. Scientia Horticulturae, 262, 109066.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109066

Per, T. S., Khan, N. A., Reddy, P. S., Masood, A., Hasanuzzaman, M., Khan, M. I. R. & Anjum, N. A. (2017). Approaches in modulating proline metabolism in plants for salt and drought stress tolerance: Phytohormones, mineral nutrients and transgenics. Plant Physiology and Biochemistery, 115, 126–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.03.018

Raja, V., Qadir, S. U., Alyemeni, M. N. & Ahmad, P. (2020). Impact of drought and heat stress individually and in combination on physio-biochemical parameters, antioxidant responses, and gene expression in Solanum lycopersicum. Biotech, 10, 208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02206-4

Ramroudi, M. & Khomr, A. R. (2013). Interaction effects of salicylic acid spraying and different irrigation levels on some quantity and quality traits, and osmoregulators in basil (Ocimum basilicum). Applied Research of Plant Ecophysiology, 1(1), 19-31.‏ (In Persian)

Ritchie, S. W., Nguyen, H. T. & Holaday, A. S. (1990). Leaf water content and gas exchange parameters of two wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance. Crop Science, 30(1), 105-111.‏ https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183X003000010025x

Rodan, M. A., Hassandokht, M. R., Sadeghzadeh-Ahari, D. & Mousavi, A. (2020). Mitigation of drought stress in eggplant by date straw and plastic mulches. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 19(7), 492-498.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2020.09.006

Sabagh, A. E., Mbarki, S., Hossain, A., Iqbal, M. A., Islam, M. S., Raza, A., ... & Farooq, M. (2021). Potential role of plant growth regulators in administering crucial processes against abiotic stresses. Frontiers in Agronomy, 3, 648694.‏ https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2021.648694

Sachdev, S., Ansari, S. A., Ansari, M. I., Fujita, M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. (2021). Abiotic stress and reactive oxygen species: Generation, signaling, and defense mechanisms. Antioxidants, 10(2), 277.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10020277

Sergiev, I., Todorova, D., Shopova, E., Jankauskiene, J., Jankovska-Bortkevič, E. & Jurkonienė, S. (2019). Exogenous auxin type compounds amend PEG-induced physiological responses of pea plants. Scientia Horticulturae, 248, 200-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.01.015

Shao, H. B., Chu, L. Y., Jaleel, C. A. & Zhao, C. X. (2008). Water-deficit stress-induced anatomical changes in higher plants. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 331(3), 215-225.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2008.01.002

Tan, Y., Liang, Z., Shao, H. & Du, F. (2006). Effect of water deficits on the activity of anti-oxidative enzymes and osmoregulation among three different genotypes of Radix astragali at seeding stage. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 49(1), 60-65.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2006.02.014

Uddin, M., Chishti, A. S., Singh, S., Bhat, U. H., Singh, S. & Khan, M. M. A. (2023). Effect of GA₃ and NAA on growth, physiological parameters, and bioactive constituents of Ammi majus L. Industrial Crops and Products, 194, 116328.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116328

Ullah, S., Afzal, I., Shumaila, S., & Shah, W. (2021). Effect of naphthyl acetic acid foliar spray on the physiological mechanism of drought stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.). Plant Stress, 2, 100035.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2021.100035

Vaziri, Z. H., Salamat, A., Ansari, M., Meschi, M., Heidari, N., & Dehqany Sanych, H. (2009). Evapotranspiration plant (water consumption guidelines for plants)(Translation). Publications of the National Committee of Irrigation and Drainage, printing, Tehran.(In Persian).‏

Xing, X., Jiang, H., Zhou, Q., Xing, H., Jiang, H. & Wang, S. (2016). Improved drought tolerance by early IAA and ABA-dependent H₂O₂ accumulation induced by α-naphthaleneacetic acid in soybean plants. Plant Growth Regulation, 80, 303-314.‏ https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-016-0167-x

Yadav, B., Jogawat, A., Gnanasekaran, P., Kumari, P., Lakra, N., Lal, S. K., Pawar, J. & Narayan, O. P. (2021). An overview of recent advances in phytohormone-mediated stress management and drought tolerance in crop plants. Plant Gene, 25, 100264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plgene.2020.100264

Yi, C., Jiang, Y., Shi, J., Qu, H., Duan, X., Yang, B., Prasad, N. K. & Liu, T. (2009). Effect of adenosine triphosphate on changes of fatty acids in harvested litchi fruit infected by Peronophythora litchii. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 54(3), 159-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2009.06.008‏

Zhang, Z., Huber, D. J., & Rao, J. (2013). Antioxidant systems of ripening avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruit following treatment at the preclimacteric stage with aqueous 1-methylcyclopropene. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 76, 58-64.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2012.09.003

Zhang, Y., Li, Y., Hassan, M. J., Li, Z. & Peng, Y. (2020). Indole-3-acetic acid improves drought tolerance of white clover via activating auxin, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid related genes and inhibiting senescence genes. BMC Plant Biology, 20, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02354-y