Aplication of kinetin to ameliorate cadmium toxicity on growth and yield components of maize (Zea Mays L.)‎ plants in Saudi Arabia

الملخص EN

Maize is the most widely distributed crops of the world.

During the past two decades in Saudi Arabia, maize becomes one of an important source of feed for human and animals.

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil drench of two concentrations (100 and 500 µmol) of cadmium chloride on growth, mineral contents, water relations and productivity of Zea mays.

Also, the study was extended to evaluate the effect of grain presoaking with kinetin to ameliorate the toxicity effects exerted by CdCl2.

Generally, cadmium treatments led to significant decrease growth parameters (shoot and root dry weights, leaf area and shoot height), photosynthetic pigments (Chl.

a, Chl.

b and carotenoids), water relations (relative water content, transpiration rate and leaf conductance), ion contents (sodium, potassium, calcium and cadmium) and yield components (grain yield, number of grains and harvest index) of maize plants as compared to control plants.

Grain presoaking in kinetin induced remarkable increases in all above studied parameters, except decrease cadmium content, of maize plants treated with different concentration of CdCl2 as compared to treated plants with CdCl2 alone.

Total soluble sugars and protein content in yielded grains were significantly decreased in maize plants irrigated with CdCl2, but application of kinetin alleviates or ameliorates the toxic effects of CdCl2.

Of particular interest that application of kinetin was positively correlated with some growth, yield and water relations and negatively correlated with cadmium content of maize plants irrigated with CdCl2 solution.