Effect of Chitosan Seed Priming on Wheat Plants’ Resistance to Flooding

Abstract

Introduction: In modern agriculture, one of the greatest challenges in wheat cultivation is f looding, which significantly reduces germination, growth, and yield of the plant. Seed priming (pretreatment) represents an effective technique for enhancing plant resistance.

 Aim: To investigate the effect of wheat seed treatment with chitosan on the response of wheat plants to short-term flooding.

 Materials and Methods: Wheat seeds, variety Nova Bosanka, were sown in a chitosan (CH) solution (2.5 mg/mL) for 24 hours, while control seeds were soaked in distilled water. After priming, the seeds were planted in soil. Plants were grown under optimal laboratory conditions for seven days, after which a part of the plants was exposed to flooding (F) for seven days, while the remaining plants continued to grow under optimal conditions. In leaves of four groups of samples (CC – control seeds, control plants; CHC – treated seeds, control plants; CF – control seeds, f looded plants; CHF – treated seeds, flooded plants), the content of photosynthetic pigments, soluble protein concentration, peroxidase class III (POX) activity, and phenolic compound content was spectrophotometrically determined.

 Results: The content of soluble proteins was higher in CC (2.860 mg/gFW ± 0.104) compared to CF (2.455 mg/gFW ± 0.07), as well as in CHC (2.564 mg/gFW ± 0.084) compared to CHF (1.805 mg/gFW ± 0.045). The highest concentration of total chlorophyll was measured in CF samples, while seed treatment with chitosan led to a reduction in the concentration. POX activity differed significantly between control and treated plants, with the highest activity recorded in CHF samples and the lowest in CC samples. The phenolic compound content was the highest in CHC plants.

 Conclusion: The results obtained indicate that chitosan, as a seed priming agent in wheat, could enhance wheat tolerance to flooding by acting on the antioxidant system.