Open AccessROOT SYSTEM IN MAIZE PLANTS CULTIVATED UNDER WATER DEFICIT AND APPLICATION OF CHITOSAN
Author(s) -
Lorena Gabriela Almeida,
Eder Marcos da Silva,
P. C. Magalhães,
D. Karam,
Caroline Oliveira dos Reis,
Carlos César Gomes Júnior,
Daniele Maria Marques
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
revista brasileira de milho e sorgo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1980-6477
pISSN - 1676-689X
DOI - 10.18512/rbms2020v19e1131
Subject(s) - chitosan , agronomy , yield (engineering) , biology , nutrient , abiotic component , agriculture , horticulture , root system , hybrid , ecology , paleontology , biochemistry , materials science , metallurgy
Low water availability is characterized as an abiotic stressthat limits the agricultural production. Due to the physical and chemicalcharacteristics of the chitosan (CHT), this substance might stimulatephysiological responses on plants to tolerate the water deficit. In this sense,we submitted corn plants to water deficit and application of chitosan on theleaves (140 mg/L) during pre flowering stage. It were analyzed two cornhybrids genotypes contrasting for water deficit tolerance: DKB 390 (tolerant)and BRS1010 (sensitive). Then, we performed evaluations on the rootsystem and production components. Corn plants submitted to the applicationof chitosan presented a specific behavior: when compared the hybrids,the tolerant one presented a root system that was more developed and anexpressive agronomical yield. These results highlight the fact that the chitosanstimulates plant growth, enhancing their root system and contributing toincrease the availability and absorption of water and nutrients. The chitosanpresents a potential to reduce the negative effects of water deficit on the rootsystems, without compromising the agronomical yield.