Exogenous Application of Amino Acids Mitigates the Deleterious Effects of Salt Stress on Soybean Plants
Kolima Peña Calzada,
Dilier Olivera Viciedo,
Eduardo Habermann,
Alexander Calero Hurtado,
Priscila Lupino Gratão,
Renato De Mello Prado,
Luis Felipe Lata-Tenesaca,
Carlos Alberto Martinez,
Gabriela Eugenia Ajila Celi,
Juan Carlos Rodríguez
Affiliations
Kolima Peña Calzada
Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Soils and Fertilizers Sector, Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Dilier Olivera Viciedo
Center of Environment and Agriculture Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Rodovia BR 222, km 4, s/n, Chapadinha 65500-000, Maranhão, Brazil
Eduardo Habermann
Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Alexander Calero Hurtado
Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Soils and Fertilizers Sector, Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Priscila Lupino Gratão
Department of Biology, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, S/N, Vila Industrial, Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Renato De Mello Prado
Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Soils and Fertilizers Sector, Department of Agricultural Production Sciences, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Luis Felipe Lata-Tenesaca
Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 14884-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Carlos Alberto Martinez
Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Gabriela Eugenia Ajila Celi
Department of Biology, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, S/N, Vila Industrial, Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Juan Carlos Rodríguez
Agronomy Department, University of Sancti Spiritus “Jose Marti Perez” (UNISS), Sancti Spiritus 60100, Cuba
The cultivated area of soybean has increased worldwide in past decades, including regions with saline soils, strongly decreasing growth and productivity. The use of amino acids (AAs) as buffering compounds against stressful conditions can be a useful strategy to mitigate salt stress in these regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of AA mixtures on the growth, physiology, and biochemistry traits of salt-stressed soybean plants. A pot experiment was designed as a factorial scheme (4 × 3) in a randomized complete design (RCD). Treatments consisted of four concentrations of AA mixtures of a non-VA application, 0.4 mL L−1, 0.8 mL L−1, and 1.2 mL L−1 (VIUSID Agro® (VA) source), which were combined with non-salt stressed and salt-stressed groups (50 and 100 mmol L−1 NaCl), to analyze improvement in growth and potassium (K+) accumulation, maintenance of relative water content (RWC), net photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and chlorophyll content, and increase of proline accumulation and water use efficiency (iWUE). Moderate and high salinity induced a notable increase in oxidative and ionic biomarkers, coupled with higher Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and Na+ accumulation. Alternatively, soybean growth, K+ accumulation, and physiological and biochemical parameters were decreased under salinity. Foliar spraying of AAs drastically increased osmolyte accumulation associated with sustained iWUE and RWC, increased proline accumulation, and improved A, E, gs, and chlorophyll content. Greater outcomes were achieved with the foliar spraying of amino acids at 1.2 mL L−1. Collectively, foliar application of AA mixtures plays an important role in salt stress remediation by modifying important physiological and biochemical processes, thereby resulting in a higher growth of soybean plants.
