Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress

Foliar spray of neem (Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss.) leaf extract was exogenously applied at pre-flowering stage to examine the changes in growth and physio-biochemical characteristics of two maize cultivars (Sultan and Sadaf) under different water regimes (100%, 75% and 60% field capacity). Water d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Riaz Hussain, Iram Shehzadi, Muhammad Sadiq, Abrar Ahmad, Nudrat Aisha Akram, Pedro Garcia-Caparros
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society of Eminent Biological Scientists 2024-07-01
Series:International Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://submissions.eminentscientists.com/index.php/IJAEB/article/view/59
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850143280385228800
author Riaz Hussain
Iram Shehzadi
Muhammad Sadiq
Abrar Ahmad
Nudrat Aisha Akram
Pedro Garcia-Caparros
author_facet Riaz Hussain
Iram Shehzadi
Muhammad Sadiq
Abrar Ahmad
Nudrat Aisha Akram
Pedro Garcia-Caparros
author_sort Riaz Hussain
collection DOAJ
description Foliar spray of neem (Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss.) leaf extract was exogenously applied at pre-flowering stage to examine the changes in growth and physio-biochemical characteristics of two maize cultivars (Sultan and Sadaf) under different water regimes (100%, 75% and 60% field capacity). Water deficit conditions significantly reduced shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), shoot length, root length, chlorophyll b, total soluble proteins and free proline, but it significantly increased ascorbic acid (AsA) and total phenolics in both maize cultivars. Foliar-applied leaf neem extract significantly improved SFW, SDW, RFW, RDW, shoot length, chlorophyll b and ascorbic acid concentrations, but it significantly minimized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents. Application of 1.0% neem extract was effective in improving chlorophyll b and AsA contents, whereas 2.0% neem extract was beneficial for total soluble proteins and MDA contents. Of both maize cultivars, cv. Sultan was found to be drought sensitive and cv. Sadaf as drought tolerant. Exogenous application of leaf neem extract was suggested to be effective in enhancing drought stress tolerance in maize by improving plant growth and oxidative defense system.
format Article
id doaj-art-3b5828cd109d4bcc9af600fb685929d2
institution OA Journals
issn 2790-6523
2790-6531
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Society of Eminent Biological Scientists
record_format Article
series International Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology
spelling doaj-art-3b5828cd109d4bcc9af600fb685929d22025-08-20T02:28:46ZengSociety of Eminent Biological ScientistsInternational Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology2790-65232790-65312024-07-013218919810.56612/ijaaeb.v1i1.5960Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stressRiaz Hussain0Iram Shehzadi1Muhammad Sadiq2Abrar Ahmad3Nudrat Aisha Akram4Pedro Garcia-Caparros5Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanDepartment of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanGovernment College University FaisalabadHigher School of Engineering, University of Almeria, SpainFoliar spray of neem (Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss.) leaf extract was exogenously applied at pre-flowering stage to examine the changes in growth and physio-biochemical characteristics of two maize cultivars (Sultan and Sadaf) under different water regimes (100%, 75% and 60% field capacity). Water deficit conditions significantly reduced shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), shoot length, root length, chlorophyll b, total soluble proteins and free proline, but it significantly increased ascorbic acid (AsA) and total phenolics in both maize cultivars. Foliar-applied leaf neem extract significantly improved SFW, SDW, RFW, RDW, shoot length, chlorophyll b and ascorbic acid concentrations, but it significantly minimized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents. Application of 1.0% neem extract was effective in improving chlorophyll b and AsA contents, whereas 2.0% neem extract was beneficial for total soluble proteins and MDA contents. Of both maize cultivars, cv. Sultan was found to be drought sensitive and cv. Sadaf as drought tolerant. Exogenous application of leaf neem extract was suggested to be effective in enhancing drought stress tolerance in maize by improving plant growth and oxidative defense system.https://submissions.eminentscientists.com/index.php/IJAEB/article/view/59neem extractcorndrought toleranceoxidative defense system
spellingShingle Riaz Hussain
Iram Shehzadi
Muhammad Sadiq
Abrar Ahmad
Nudrat Aisha Akram
Pedro Garcia-Caparros
Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
International Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology
neem extract
corn
drought tolerance
oxidative defense system
title Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
title_full Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
title_fullStr Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
title_full_unstemmed Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
title_short Leaf extract of neem (<em>Azadirachta indica</em> Adr. Juss.) modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under water deficit stress
title_sort leaf extract of neem em azadirachta indica em adr juss modulates morphological and biochemical characteristics in maize i zea mays i l under water deficit stress
topic neem extract
corn
drought tolerance
oxidative defense system
url https://submissions.eminentscientists.com/index.php/IJAEB/article/view/59
work_keys_str_mv AT riazhussain leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress
AT iramshehzadi leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress
AT muhammadsadiq leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress
AT abrarahmad leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress
AT nudrataishaakram leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress
AT pedrogarciacaparros leafextractofneememazadirachtaindicaemadrjussmodulatesmorphologicalandbiochemicalcharacteristicsinmaizeizeamaysilunderwaterdeficitstress