Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize
Drought stress significantly affects maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) growth by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the potential of proline supplementation to alleviate drought-induced stress in maize plants. The results show that proline suppleme...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Pirzada Khan Ashraf M. M. Abdelbacki Mohammed Albaqami Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim |
| author_facet | Pirzada Khan Ashraf M. M. Abdelbacki Mohammed Albaqami Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim |
| author_sort | Pirzada Khan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drought stress significantly affects maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) growth by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the potential of proline supplementation to alleviate drought-induced stress in maize plants. The results show that proline supplementation enhanced shoot and root growth under normal conditions and alleviated drought-induced reductions in growth parameters. Under drought stress, proline increased shoot length by 40%, root length by 36%, shoot fresh weight by 97%, root fresh weight by 247%, shoot dry weight by 77%, and root dry weight by 154% compared to the untreated plants. While drought stress induced electrolyte leakage and reduced the relative water content (RWC) and leaf area, proline treatment mitigated these effects by improving membrane stability, water retention, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, proline supplementation reduced hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 38% and 67%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants compared to the untreated controls. It also enhanced catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 14%, 69%, and 144%, respectively, under drought stress, indicating a strengthened antioxidative defense. Proline also increased the protein content and improved N, P, and K retention by 30%, 40%, and 28%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants, supporting metabolic and osmotic balance. Additionally, proline improved endogenous proline and sugar levels, facilitating osmotic adjustment and providing energy reserves. These findings suggest that proline supplementation effectively enhances maize resilience under drought stress, improving growth, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing osmoprotection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9652e763baf425f988e80d0aceea65b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9652e763baf425f988e80d0aceea65b2025-01-24T13:23:24ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-01-011414110.3390/biology14010041Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in MaizePirzada Khan0Ashraf M. M. Abdelbacki1Mohammed Albaqami2Rahmatullah Jan3Kyung-Min Kim4Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaDeanship of Skill Development, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaCoastal Agriculture Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDrought stress significantly affects maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) growth by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the potential of proline supplementation to alleviate drought-induced stress in maize plants. The results show that proline supplementation enhanced shoot and root growth under normal conditions and alleviated drought-induced reductions in growth parameters. Under drought stress, proline increased shoot length by 40%, root length by 36%, shoot fresh weight by 97%, root fresh weight by 247%, shoot dry weight by 77%, and root dry weight by 154% compared to the untreated plants. While drought stress induced electrolyte leakage and reduced the relative water content (RWC) and leaf area, proline treatment mitigated these effects by improving membrane stability, water retention, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, proline supplementation reduced hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by 38% and 67%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants compared to the untreated controls. It also enhanced catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 14%, 69%, and 144%, respectively, under drought stress, indicating a strengthened antioxidative defense. Proline also increased the protein content and improved N, P, and K retention by 30%, 40%, and 28%, respectively, in the drought-stressed plants, supporting metabolic and osmotic balance. Additionally, proline improved endogenous proline and sugar levels, facilitating osmotic adjustment and providing energy reserves. These findings suggest that proline supplementation effectively enhances maize resilience under drought stress, improving growth, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing osmoprotection.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/1/41drought stressproline supplementationoxidative stressantioxidant defenseosmoprotection |
| spellingShingle | Pirzada Khan Ashraf M. M. Abdelbacki Mohammed Albaqami Rahmatullah Jan Kyung-Min Kim Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize Biology drought stress proline supplementation oxidative stress antioxidant defense osmoprotection |
| title | Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize |
| title_full | Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize |
| title_fullStr | Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize |
| title_short | Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize |
| title_sort | proline promotes drought tolerance in maize |
| topic | drought stress proline supplementation oxidative stress antioxidant defense osmoprotection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/1/41 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pirzadakhan prolinepromotesdroughttoleranceinmaize AT ashrafmmabdelbacki prolinepromotesdroughttoleranceinmaize AT mohammedalbaqami prolinepromotesdroughttoleranceinmaize AT rahmatullahjan prolinepromotesdroughttoleranceinmaize AT kyungminkim prolinepromotesdroughttoleranceinmaize |