Abstract
The purpose of our study was to decipher the effectiveness of different Fe complexes on functional Fe status as represented by chloroplast pigments, lipid peroxidation, and catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity. As Fe-Ethylenediamine-N, N’ bis (o-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (Fe-EDDHA) showed chlorotic symptoms in our preliminary tests, we aimed to investigate whether the selected complexes [Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), and Fe-Citrate] are good sources of functional Fe in maize (Zea mays var. Trimurti-2841) plants. Maize plants were grown under aerated hydroponic culture conditions and treated with either 150 µM FeCl3 or Fe in complex with synthetic organic ligands, viz., 150 and 200 µM Fe-EDTA, 150 µM Fe-EDDHA, and 150 µM Fe-Citrate. Our study revealed more dry mass along with an improved functional Fe status as indicated by chloroplast pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities in the maize plants treated with Fe-EDTA (150 and 200 μM), and Fe-Citrate (150 μM). High ferric chelate reductase activity (FCR) in Fe-Citrate-treated plants suggests greater Fe availability, as indicated by the root Fe content and chlorophyll concentration. Maize plants treated with Fe-EDDHA, however, exhibited interveinal chlorosis, indicating a poor functional Fe status possibly due to its aromaticity and lower hydrophilicity. Superoxide anions probably contributed to the reduction of Fe-chelate, as plants with high NADPH oxidase-like activity and high superoxide anion production synthesized more chlorophyll and increased catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Overall, Fe-EDTA and Fe-Citrate showed considerable potential for improving functional Fe status in maize plants.
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Data Availability
All data are available on request from the authors.
Abbreviations
- CAT:
-
Catalase
- G-POD:
-
Guaiacol peroxidase
- GR:
-
Glutathione reductase
- H2O2 :
-
Hydrogen peroxide
- NOX-like:
-
NADPH oxidase-like
- APX:
-
Ascorbate peroxidase
- ROS:
-
Reactive oxygen species
- SOD:
-
Superoxide dismutase
- EDTA:
-
Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid
- EDDHA:
-
Ethylenediamine-N, N’ bis (o-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid
- FCR:
-
Ferric chelate reductase
- O2 •- :
-
Superoxide anion
- PS:
-
Phytosiderophore
- NPT:
-
Non-protein thiol
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Acknowledgements
R.G. is thankful to the UP Higher Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh for a research fellowship under Centre of Excellence Scheme (Improvement of…..interventions: 91/2021/2095/sattar-04 (17)/2021/4.7) at the Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007
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This work was supported by a research grant of the Higher Education Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh under the Centre of Excellence program at the University of Lucknow [Improvement of…..interventions: 91/2021/2095/sattar-04 (17)/2021/4.7].
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RKT and RG conceptualized and designed the overall research and contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. RG and VK together carried out experiments, collected and analysed the data.
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Gupta, R., Kumar, V. & Tewari, R.K. Relative Effectiveness of Iron in Complex with Organic Ligands on Functional Iron Status of Maize Plants. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 24, 547–560 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01564-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01564-1