Abstract
The present study focuses on photosynthetic and physiological changes to bicarbonate (HCO3−) toxicity in maize with the moderation of carbonic anhydrase activity. We investigated alkaline stress (0, 10, and 15 mM HCO3−) tolerance of Zea mays (L.) through iron (Fe) supplementation (with Fe-EDTA) that influenced photosynthetic activities and sugar metabolism. Changes of relative growth rate, specific leaf area, net assimilation rate under bicarbonate stress or in supplementation with Fe registered the initial sensitivity to alkaline stress. The accumulation of iron in parallel to carbonic anhydrase activity significantly released the CO2 to neutralize the high pH. The photosynthetic efficiency through C4 carboxylase (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase) and decarboxylase (NADP-malic enzyme) activities responded in a complementary manner to interact with alkaline stress. In the downstream carbon reduction cycle, plants had balanced the sucrose metabolism by alteration of sucrose phosphate synthase and invertase (both soluble and insoluble forms) activities. The Fe-EDTA modulated both carboxylation and decarboxylation to compensate for the C4-CO2-concentrating mechanism. Changes in osmotic turgidity of tissues were recorded with subdued relative water content but adjusted with higher proline accumulation markedly under iron supplementation. Furthermore, alkaline toxicity induced the anoxic condition which was adjusted with the optimum activity of alcohol dehydrogenase. In conclusion, the present study might unravel the paths of alkaline stress tolerance through C4-specific CO2-concentrating mechanism and related physiological attributes with Fe nutrition like Fe-EDTA as a promising supplement.
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Acknowledgements
This work acknowledges support from DST-PURSE II Program applicable to University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. For few analytical authors, Prof. Surajit Chattopadhyay, Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, India, is acknowledged.
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BS done all the experiments and data collection and performed statistical analysis. MKA designed the experiments, hypothesized the concept, and written up the whole manuscript. MH hypothesized the concept, analyzed and visualized the data, and edited the manuscript.
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Sarkar, B., Hasanuzzaman, M. & Adak, M.K. Insights into the Role of Iron Supplementation in Conferring Bicarbonate-Mediated Alkaline Stress Tolerance in Maize. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 22, 2719–2734 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00839-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00839-3