Effect of high temperature pretreatment in maize seeds on seedling growth

ML EGGEL; LB PENA; MV PÉREZ CHACA

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Congreso; XXXIX Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2021

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Unfavorable environmental conditions can severely limit a plant´s embryonic viability and growth. Stress is considered to be a significant deviation from optimal living conditions inducing reversible and irreversible changes. Different studies show the triggering of oxidative stress, metabolism and phytohormonal desbalance by exposing plants to high temperatures. Maize seed drying is key between harvesting and seed storage; however, the effect of drying temperatures on maize seed damage is still unclear. The objective is to evaluate the pretreatment with elevated temperatures during short periods in maize seeds on the postgerminative development of seedlings. Maize seeds (Zea mays L.) variety NS 7818 VIP3 from Nidera were subjected to pretreatment with elevated temperatures at 40, 50, 60, and 70 °C for 72 h (n = 30). Seeds with and without heat pretreatments were superficially disinfected with 3.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min. Seeds were germinated on cotton and sterile paper towels saturated with sterile distilled water at 28 °C for 96 h maximum. Length and biomass (fresh and dry weight) of coleoptile and main root of the germinated seeds with and without pretreatment were determined. Our preliminary results showed a significant increase in the length of coleoptiles (p