Evaluation of mitigating effects of acetylcholine application on corn seeds [Zea mays L.] under high temperatures

• Grant number: 20/07168-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: October 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Lima Moro
• Grantee: Daniele Silva Sukert
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Maize [Zea mays L.] is a worldwide cultivated cereal of great economic importance. Due to the substantial increase in global temperature, this crop is directly affected by the decrease of its productive potential and its morphological and physiological structures. However, an important bioregulator produced in minimal endogenous quantities by the plant is Acetylcholine (ACh), capable of mitigating the effects of stress. Acetylcholine acts on germination, reproduction, growth, development and also processes on cell metabolism of the culture. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of exogenous application of acetylcholine on corn seeds submitted to high temperatures. For this, tests will be performed germination percentage, root and shoot lengths, fresh mass, dry mass and root morphological analysis, anatomical leaf analysis and analysis of the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase (SOD, CAT and POD, respectively). And finally, the results will be evaluated from analysis of variance (ANOVA, p <0.05) and means compared by Tukey test (p <0.05) and principal component multivariate analysis (PCA) with the statistical program PC-Ord.