Exogenous nitric oxide alleviates iron-deficiency chlorosis in peanut growing on calcareous soil

Abstract

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, was added into controlled release fertilizer (CRF) or sprayed on leaves to supply NO on iron deficiency stress in peanut (Arachis hypogaea Linn) plants growing on calcareous soils. Iron deficiency reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content. NO improved plant growth and alleviated leaf interveinal chlorosis, and increased the activity of root FeIII reductase and the concentration of available iron in cultured soil, suggesting that NO action could be related to iron availability to the plant. The actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) and photochemical maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were increased, and minimum fluorescence yield (Fo) was decreased under NO-treated condition, which supported the protective effect of NO on photosystem II (PSII) in peanut leaves. NO increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. These results suggest that exogenous NO could alleviate iron deficiency induced chlorosis of peanut plants growing on calcareous soil.

Keywords

• arachis hypogaea linn
• active iron
• feiii reductase
• chlorophyll
• antioxidant enzymes