Abstract: |
Polyamines (PAs) are plant growth regulators that attenuate the destructive impacts of
water deficit on sesame plants, particularly in arid regions under abrupt climate change. Limited
information is available on the physiological, biochemical, anatomical, and agronomic responses
of sesame to exogenous application of PAs under water deficit under field conditions. Thus, a
two-season field trial was carried out to assess the impact of exogenously sprayed spermine (Spm),
spermidine (Spd), and putrescine (Put) on physio-biochemical and anatomical parameters and
their influences on agronomic performance and crop water productivity of sesame plants. The
sesame plants were assessed under three irrigation regimes; full irrigation (100% ETc), mild drought
(75% ETc), and severe drought (50% ETc) conditions. Drought stress displayed negative impacts
on all evaluated parameters. However, exogenously applied Pas, especially Put, restricted the
destructive effects of water deficit. The application of PAs exhibited highly significant enhancement
in photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids), gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate,
stomatal conductance, and rate of transpiration), water relations (relative water content, membrane
stability index, excised leaf water retention), and plant nutrient content (N, P, and K) compared to
untreated plants, particularly under severe drought stress. Moreover, PA application displayed highly
significant amelioration in osmoprotectants (free proline, soluble sugars, α-Tocopherol, ascorbate,
and glutathione), and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase,
ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). In addition, foliar nourishing with PAs exhibited
a highly significant reduction in oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage,
superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide). These positive impacts of PA application under drought stress
were reflected in highly significant improvement in anatomical characteristics (midrib length and
width, vascular bundle length and width, thickness of phloem, xylem and collenchyma, vessel
diameter, and number of xylem rows in midvein bundle), and yield-related traits (plant height, leaf
area, number of capsules per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, and oil content). Consequently,
exogenous application of PAs (in particular, Put) could be exploited to enhance the crop water
productivity and yield traits of sesame plants under low water availability in arid regions.
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