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Potassium up-regulates antioxidant metabolism and alleviates growth inhibition under water and osmotic stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L)

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Abstract

Pot experiments were conducted to find out the effectivity of K on Triticum aestivum L cultivars. Polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) was used as an osmoticum to induce osmotic stress under sand culture setting up the water potential of external solution at −3 and −5 bars. In pots, plants were raised under restricted and normal irrigation and K was applied in varying doses (0, 20, 40, 60 kg ha−1) and estimation of different physiological and biochemical parameters was done at two developmental stages, i.e., preflowering and flowering. Supplementation of K resulted in obvious increase in growth and activity of antioxidant enzymes in both normal and stressed plants. Added potassium increased total phenols and tannins thereby strengthening the components of both the enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant system. Under both normal and stressed conditions, K-fed plants experienced significant increase in the synthesis of osmolytes like free proline, amino acids, and sugars which assumes special significance in growth under water stress conditions. Wheat plants accumulating greater K were able to counteract the water stress-induced changes by maintaining lower Na/K ratio.

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Acknowledgments

Financial assistance from Jiwaji University, Gwalior (F/DEV/2013-14/33) to the first author in the form of a JU Research Fellowship is gratefully acknowledged. Help received from Prof. Nafees A. Khan, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Dr. Mohd Asgher for sharing SPSS and Sigma plot software.

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  1. School of Studies in Botany, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, 474011, India

    Mohammad Abass Ahanger & R. M. Agarwal

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  1. Mohammad Abass Ahanger
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Correspondence to Mohammad Abass Ahanger.

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Present manuscript forms part of a PhD work of MA Ahanger which was conceived and designed by Prof. RM Agarwal. MA Ahanger performed experiments and wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and RM Agarwal cross checked the results and manuscript.

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Ahanger, M.A., Agarwal, R.M. Potassium up-regulates antioxidant metabolism and alleviates growth inhibition under water and osmotic stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Protoplasma 254, 1471–1486 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-016-1037-0

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