Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protective Effect of 24-Epibrassinolide on Barley Plants Growing Under Combined Stress of Salinity and Potassium Deficiency

  • Published:
Journal of Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Evaluation of the effects of 24-epibrassinoide (24-EBL) was done on two genotypes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants (salt tolerant-RD-2508 and salt sensitive-RD-2660) grown under combined stress of salinity and potassium deficiency. Salt-stressed (200 mM NaCl) and K-deficient plants were subjected to different concentrations of 24-EBL (1 ppm, 100 ppm, 1000 ppm) to analyse its effect on combinatorial abiotic stress. Individually both salinity stress and potassium deficit resulted in decrease of plant growth, chlorophyll content and relative water content (RWC). However, the combination of salinity stress and potassium deficient was found to be more harmful for plants. Supplementation of 24-EBL ameliorated the negative effects of combined stress and promoted the growth of stressed plants. This ameliorative effect of 24-EBL could be accounted by the improved activity of antioxidant enzymes, osmolytes such as proline and sugar that affected the oxidative stress by reducing Na+ accumulation and improved K+ concentration and K+/Na+ ratio in stressed plants. Enhancement of K+ accumulation and increase in K+/Na+ ratio through restriction of Na+ accumulation could be considered as a key feature for 24-EBL-induced tolerance along with improved RWC and chlorophyll content. 24- EBL at 100 ppm was more promising in alleviating the stress conditions. Thus, BR-induced manipulation in ion haemostasis can be a prominent trait and can be used as a criterion for developing salt stress and K-limited tolerant barely genotypes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbasi GH, Akhtar J, Anwar-ul-Haq M, Ahmad N (2012) Screening of maize hybrids for salt tolerance at seedling stage under hydroponic condition. Soil Environ 31:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Aebi H (1984) Catalase in vitro. Methods in enzymology, vol 105. Academic Press, Cambridge, pp 121–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahammed GJ, Li X, Liu A, Chen S (2020) Brassinosteroids in plant tolerance to abiotic stress. J Plant Growth Regul 1:4

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad Z, Anjum S, Waraich EA, Ayub MA, Ahmad T, Tariq RMS, Ahmad R, Iqbal MA (2018) Growth, physiology, and biochemical activities of plant responses with foliar potassium application under drought stress— a review. J Plant Nutr 41:1734–1743

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ali B, Hayat S, Fariduddin Q, Ahmad A (2008) 24-Epibrassinolide protects against the stress generated by salinity and nickel in Brassica juncea. Chemosphere 72:1387–1392

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida DM, Oliveira MM, Saibo NJM (2017) Regulation of Na+ and K+ homeostasis in plants: towards improved salt stress tolerance in crop plants. Genet Mol Biol 40:326–345

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Arias-Baldrich C, Bosch N, Begines D, Feria AB, Monreal JA, García-Mauriño S (2015) Proline synthesis in barley under iron deficiency and salinity. J Plant Physiol 183:121–129

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Assaha DVM, Ueda A, Saneoka H, Al-Yahyai R, Yaish MW (2017) The role of Na+ and K+ transporters in salt stress adaptation in glycophytes. Front Physiol 8:509

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barrs HD, Weatherley PE (1962) A re-examination of the relative turgidity technique for estimating water deficits in leaves. Aust J Biol Sci 15:413–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates LS, Waldren RP, Teare ID (1973) Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. Plant Soil 39:205–207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bohra JS, Doerffling K (1993) Potassium nutrition of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under NaCl salinity. Plant Soil 152:299–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem 72:248–254

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cakmak I (2005) The role of potassium in alleviating detrimental effects of abiotic stresses in plants. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 168:521–530

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castle J, Montoya T, Bishop GJ (2003) Selected physiological responses of brassinosteroids: a historical approach. In: Hayat S, Ahmad A (eds) Brassinosteroids. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 45–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Chérel I (2004) Regulation of K+ channel activities in plants: from physiological to molecular aspects. J Exp Bot 55:337–351

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cuin TA, Shabala S (2007) Compatible solutes reduce ROS-induced potassium efflux in Arabidopsis roots. Plant Cell Environ 30:875–885

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Degl’Innocenti E, Hafsi C, Guidi L, Navari-Izzo F (2009) The effect of salinity on photosynthetic activity in potassium-deficient barley species. J Plant Physiol 166:1968–1981

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Demidchik V, Shabala SN, Coutts KB, Tester MA, Davies JM (2003) Free oxygen radicals regulate plasma membrane Ca2+-and K+-permeable channels in plant root cells. J Cell Sci 116:81–88

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dey PM (1990) Oligosaccharides. Methods in plant biochemistry, vol 2. Academic Press, London, pp 189–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhindsa RS, Plumb-dhindsa P, Thorpe TA (1981) Leaf senescence : correlated with increased levels of membrane permeability and lipid peroxidation, and decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Physiol Plant 56:453–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong Y, Wang W, Hu GQ, Chen W, Zhuge Y, Wang Z, He MR (2017) Role of exogenous 24-epibrassinolide in enhancing the salt tolerance of wheat Seedlings. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 17:554–569

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Mashad AAA, Mohamed HI (2012) Brassinolide alleviates salt stress and increases antioxidant activity of cowpea plants (Vigna sinensis). Protoplasma 249:625–635

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta P, Srivastava S, Seth CS (2017) 24-epibrassinolide and sodium nitroprusside alleviate the salinity stress in Brassica juncea L. cv. Varuna through cross talk among proline, nitrogen metabolism and abscisic acid. Plant Soil 411:483–498

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hafsi C, Russo MA, Sgherri C, Izzo R, Navari-Izzo F, Abdelly C (2009) Implication of phospholipase D in response of Hordeum vulgare root to short-term potassium deprivation. J Plant Physiol 166:499–506

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hafsi C, Romero-Puertas MC, del Río LA, Abdelly C, Sandalio LM (2011) Antioxidative response of Hordeum maritimum L. to potassium deficiency. Acta Physiol Plant 33:193–202

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haubrick LL, Torsethaugen G, Assmann SM (2006) Effect of brassinolide, alone and in concert with abscisic acid, on control of stomatal aperture and potassium currents of Vicia faba guard cell protoplasts. Physiol Plant 128:134–143

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayat S, Ali B, Hasan SA, Ahmad A (2007) Brassinosteroid enhanced the level of antioxidants under cadmium stress in Brassica juncea. Environ Exp Bot 60:33–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayat S, Hasan SA, Hayat Q, Ahmad A (2010) Brassinosteroids protect Lycopersicon esculentum from cadmium toxicity applied as shotgun approach. Protoplasma 239:3–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Honnerová J, Rothová O, Holá D, Kočová M, Kohout L, Kvasnica M (2010) The exogenous application of brassinosteroids to Zea mays (L.) stressed by long-term chilling does not affect the activities of photosystem 1 or 2. J Plant Growth Regul 29:500–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber SC (1984) Biochemical basis for effects of k-deficiency on assimilate export rate an accumulation of soluble sugars in soybeans leaves. Plant Physiol 76:424–430

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Janeczko A, Gruszka D, Pociecha E, Dziurka M, Filek M, Jurczyk B, Kalaji HM, Kocurek M, Waligórski P (2016) Physiological and biochemical characterisation of watered and drought-stressed barley mutants in the HvDWARF gene encoding C6-oxidase involved in brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Plant Physiol Biochem 99:126–141

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalinich JF, Mandava NB, Todhunter JA (1985) Relationship of nucleic acid metabolism to brassinolide-induced responses in beans. J Plant Physiol 120:207–214

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur N, Pati PK (2019) Harnessing the potential of brassinosteroids in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In: Hayat S, Yusuf M, Bhardwaj R, Bajguz A (eds) Brassinosteroids: plant growth and development. Springer, Singapore, pp 407–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur H, Sirhindi G, Bhardwaj R, Alyemeni MN, Siddique KHM, Ahmad P (2018a) 28-homobrassinolide regulates antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression in response to salt- and temperature-induced oxidative stress in Brassica juncea. Sci Rep 8:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaur S, Handa N, Bali S, Arora S, Sharma A, Kaur R (2018b) Modulation of antioxidative defense expression and osmolyte content by co- application of 24-epibrassinolide and salicylic acid in Pb exposed Indian mustard plants. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 147:382–393

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaya C, Aydemir S, Akram NA, Ashraf M (2018) Epibrassinolide application regulates some key physio-biochemical attributes as well as oxidative defense system in maize plants grown under saline stress. J Plant Growth Regul 37:1244–1257

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • KoleškaI HD, Todorović V, Murtić S, Klokić I, Paradiković N, Kukavica B (2017) Biostimulant prevents yield loss and reduces oxidative damage in tomato plants grown on reduced NPK nutrition. J Plant Interact 12:209–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Lai Y, Zhang D, Wang J, Wang J, Ren P, Yao L, Si E, Kong Y, Wang H (2020) Integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of molecular mechanism responding to salt stress during seed germination in hulless barley. Int J Mol Sci 21:359

    CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Gao H, Wang X, Zheng Q, Wang C, Wang X, Wang Q (2014) Effects of 24-epibrassinolide on plant growth, osmotic regulation and ion homeostasis of salt-stressed canola. Plant Biol 16(2):440–450

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K, Viro M (1974) Effect of potassium supply on the transport of photosynthates to the fruits of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). Physiol Plant 30:295–300

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mian A, Oomen RJ, Isayenkov S, Sentenac H, Maathuis FJ, Véry AA (2011) Over-expression of an Na+-and K+-permeable HKT transporter in barley improves salt tolerance. Plant J 68:468–479

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Minjiam C, Haiqiu Y, Hongkui Y, Chunji J (2007) Difference in tolerance to potassium deficiency between two maize inbred lines. Plant Prod Sci 10:42–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Murakeözy ÉP, Nagy Z, Duhazé C, Bouchereau A, Tuba Z (2003) Seasonal changes in the levels of compatible osmolytes in three halophytic species of inland saline vegetation in Hungary. J Plant Physiol 160:395–401

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakano Y, Asada K (1981) Hydrogen peroxide is scavenged by ascorbate-specific peroxidase in spinach chloroplasts. Plant Cell Physiol 22:867–880

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nawaz F, Naeem M, Zulfiqar B, Akram A, Ashraf MY, Raheel M, Shabbir RN, Hussain RA, Anwar I, Aurangzaib M (2017) Understanding brassinosteroid-regulated mechanisms to improve stress tolerance in plants: a critical review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:15959–15975

    Google Scholar 

  • Parvaiz A, Satyawati S (2008) Salt stress and phyto-biochemical responses of plants-a review. Plant Soil Environ 54:89

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paul D, Lade H (2014) Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria to improve crop growth in saline soils : a review. Agron Sustain Dev 34:737–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Per TS, Khan NA, Reddy PS, Masood A, Hasanuzzaman M, Khan MIR, Anjum NA (2017) Approaches in modulating proline metabolism in plants for salt and drought stress tolerance: phytohormones, mineral nutrients and transgenics. Plant Physiol Biochem 115:126–140

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rattan A, Kapoor D, Kapoor N, Bhardwaj R, Sharma A (2020) Brassinosteroids regulate functional components of antioxidative defense system in salt stressed maize seedlings. J Plant Growth Regul. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10097-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi F, Shekafandeh A (2014) Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on salinity-induced changes in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl ). J Appl Bot Food Qual 87:182–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar B, Sharma RC, Verma RPS, Sarkar A, Sharma I (2014) Identifying superior feed barley genotypes using GGE biplot for diverse environments in India. Indian J Genet Plant Breed 74:26–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Shabala S (2003) Regulation of potassium transport in leaves: from molecular to tissue level. Ann Bot 92:627–634

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma I, Ching E, Saini S, Bhardwaj R, Pati PK (2013) Exogenous application of brassinosteroid offers tolerance to salinity by altering stress responses in rice variety Pusa Basmati-1. Plant Physiol Biochem 69:17–26

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma A, Shahzad B, Kumar V, Kohli SK, Sidhu GP, Bali AS, Handa N, Kapoor D, Bhardwaj R, Zheng B (2019a) Phytohormones regulate accumulation of osmolytes under abiotic stress. Biomolecules 9:285

    CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma A, Kumar V, Shahzad B et al (2019b) Photosynthetic response of plants under different abiotic stresses: a review. J Plant Growth Regul. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10018-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shirazi MU, Asif SM, Khanzada B, Khan MA, Mohammad A (2001) Growth and ion accumulation in some wheat genotypes under NaCl stress. Pak J Biol Sci 4:e391

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Y, Kong X, Li C, Liu Y, Ding Z (2015) Potassium retention under salt stress is associated with natural variation in salinity tolerance among Arabidopsis accessions. PLoS ONE 10:e0124032

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Taïbi K, Taïbi F, Ait Abderrahim L, Ennajah A, Belkhodja M, Mulet JM (2016) Effect of salt stress on growth, chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defence systems in Phaseolus vulgaris L. S Afr J Bot 105:306–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang ZH, Zhang AJ, Wei M, Chen XG, Liu ZH, Li HM, Ding YF (2015) Physiological response to potassium deficiency in three sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) genotypes differing in potassium utilization efficiency. Acta Physiol Plant 37:184

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanveer M, Shahzad B, Sharma A, Biju S, Bhardwaj R (2018) 24-Epibrassinolide; an active brassinolide and its role in salt stress tolerance in plants: a review. Plant Physiol Biochem 130:69–79

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tian X, He M, Wang Z, Zhang J, Song Y, He Z, Dong Y (2015) Application of nitric oxide and calcium nitrate enhances tolerance of wheat seedlings to salt stress. Plant Growth Regul 77:343–356

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang M, Zheng Q, Shen Q, Guo S (2013) The critical role of potassium in plant stress response. Int J Mol Sci 14:7370–7390

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Ni N (2000) Changes in chlorophyll, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase, glycine betaine content, photosynthesis and transpiration in Amaranthus tricolor leaves during salt stress. J Hortic Sci Biotechnol 75:623–627

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Wu WH (2013) Regulation of potassium transport and signaling in plants. Annu Rev Plant Biol 64:451–476

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav S, Hayat S, Wani AS, Irfan M, Aqil A (2012) Comparison of the influence of 28-homobrassinolide and 24-epibrassinolide on nitrate reductase activity, proline content, and antioxidative enzymes of tomato. Int J Veg Sci 18:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue J, You Y, Zhang L, Fu Z, Wang J, Zhang J, Guy RD (2019) Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide alleviates effects of salt stress on chloroplasts and photosynthesis in Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings. J Plant Growth Regul 38:669–682

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yusuf M, Fariduddin Q, Khan TA, Hayat S (2017) Epibrassinolide reverses the stress generated by combination of excess aluminum and salt in two wheat cultivars through altered proline metabolism and antioxidants. S Afr J Bot 112:391–398

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaheer MM, Yasin NA, Ahmad SR, Khan WU, Ahmad A, Ali A, Rehman SU (2018) Amelioration of cadmium stress in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflora L.) by application of potassium and silicon. J Plant Nutr 41:461–476

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao D, Oosterhuis DM, Bednarz CW (2001) Influence of potassium deficiency on photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and chloroplast ultrastructure of cotton plants. Photosynthetica 39:103–109

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The first author is highly thankful to Hamdard National Foundation (HNF), New Delhi, India for financial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India

    Saima Liaqat, Shahid Umar, Peer Saffeullah, Noushina Iqbal, Tariq O. Siddiqi & M. Iqbal R. Khan

Authors
  1. Saima Liaqat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shahid Umar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peer Saffeullah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Noushina Iqbal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tariq O. Siddiqi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Iqbal R. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Iqbal R. Khan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors have read the manuscript and approved without any conflicts.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOC 99 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liaqat, S., Umar, S., Saffeullah, P. et al. Protective Effect of 24-Epibrassinolide on Barley Plants Growing Under Combined Stress of Salinity and Potassium Deficiency. J Plant Growth Regul 39, 1543–1558 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10163-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10163-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation