Application of prohexadione-calcium priming affects Brassica napus L. seedlings by regulating morph-physiological characteristics under salt stress.

Salinity stress imposes severe constraints on plant growth and development. Here, we explored the impacts of prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) on rapeseed growth under salt stress. We designed a randomized block design pot experiment using two rapeseed varieties, 'Huayouza 158R' and 'Huayouza 62'. We conducted six treatments, S0: non-primed + 0 mM NaCl, Pro-Ca+S0: Pro-Ca primed + 0 mM NaCl, S100: non-primed + 100 mM NaCl, Pro-Ca+S100: Pro-Ca primed + 100 mM NaCl, S150: non-primed + 150 mM NaCl, Pro-Ca+S150: Pro-Ca primed + 150 mM NaCl. The morphophysiological characteristics, and osmoregulatory and antioxidant activities were compared for primed and non-primed varieties. Our data analysis showed that salt stress induced morph-physiological traits and significantly reduced the antioxidant enzyme activities in both rapeseed varieties. The Pro-Ca primed treatment significantly improved seedlings, root, and shoot morphological traits and accumulated more dry matter biomass under salt stress. Compared to Huayouza 158R, Huayouza 62 performed better with the Pro-Ca primed treatment. The Pro-Ca primed treatment significantly enhanced chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), and actual photochemical quantum efficiency (ФPSII). Furthermore, the Pro-Ca primed treatment also improved ascorbic acid (ASA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, and stimulated the accumulation of soluble proteins. These findings strongly suggested that the Pro-Ca primed treatment may effectively counteract the negative impacts of salinity stress by regulating the morph-physiological and antioxidant traits.

Evaluation of Plant Defense Inducers and Plant Growth Regulators for Fire Blight Management Using Transcriptome Studies and Field Assessments.

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is a destructive disease of pome fruit trees. In the United States, apple and pear growers rely on applications of copper and antibiotics during bloom to control fire blight, but such methods have already led to regional instances of resistance. In this study, we used transcriptome analyses and field trials to evaluate the effectiveness of three commercially available plant defense elicitors and one plant growth regulator for fire blight management. Our data indicated that foliar applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM; Actigard 50WG) triggered a strong defense-related response in apple leaves, whereas applications of Bacillus mycoides isolate J (LifeGard WG) or Reynoutria sachalinensis extract (Regalia) did not. Genes upregulated by ASM were enriched in the biological processes associated with plant immunity, such as defense response and protein phosphorylation. The expression of several pathogenesis-related (PR) genes was induced by ASM as well. Surprisingly, many differentially expressed genes in ASM-treated apple leaves overlapped with those induced by treatment with prohexadione-calcium (ProCa; Apogee), a plant growth regulator that suppresses shoot elongation. Further analysis suggested that ProCa likely acts similarly to ASM to stimulate plant immunity because genes involved in plant defense were shared and significantly upregulated (more than twofold) by both treatments. Our field trials agreed with the transcriptome study, demonstrating that ASM and ProCa exhibit the best control performance relative to the other biopesticides. Taken together, these data are pivotal for the understanding of plant response and shed light on future improvements of strategies for fire blight management.

Effects of prohexadione calcium spraying during the booting stage on panicle traits, yield, and related physiological characteristics of rice under salt stress.

Prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca), as a growth retardant, can effectively alleviate the damage of salt stress to plants. In order to explore the effects of NaCl stress on the physiological characteristics and panicle traits of rice plants as well as the alleviating effect of Pro-Ca at the booting stage, we performed pot experiments on two rice cultivars: conventional rice 'Huanghuazhan' and hybrid rice 'Xiangliangyou900'. Rice plants were treated with 0.3% NaCl 48 hours after Pro-Ca (100 mg L-1) treatment to study the effects of Pro-Ca on the physiological characteristics of the leaves and panicles, as well as the panicle and yield traits of rice under salt stress. Our analysis indicated that NaCl treatment inhibited the morphological growth parameters and photosynthetic efficiency, destroyed the antioxidant defense systems of leaves and panicles, increased soluble protein and proline in both rice cultivars. Foliar application of Pro-Ca significantly increased the leaf area, uppermost internode length, panicle length, panicle weight, number of primary branches, number of grains per panicle, seed setting rate and yield under salt stress. Pro-Ca application significantly affected chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), and apparent mesophyll conductance (AMC) in NaCl-treated rice cultivars compared with NaCl treatment alone. Moreover, Pro-Ca also increased ascorbic acid (AsA) content, enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity, and further increased the accumulation of soluble protein and proline in leaves and panicles. These results illustrated that foliar application of Pro-Ca at the booting stage could alleviate the damage caused by NaCl stress by regulating the physiological and metabolic processes of rice plants, thereby enhancing the stress resistance of the plants, increasing total rice yield in salt stress conditions.

Proof of Concept for Shoot Blight and Fire Blight Canker Management with Postinfection Spray Applications of Prohexadione-Calcium and Acibenzolar-S-Methyl in Apple.

To reduce the severity of shoot blight and prevent the resulting development of cankers on perennial apple wood, we evaluated eight fire blight postinfection spray programs of prohexadione-calcium (PCA) alone or with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) over 2 years. On mature trees of cultivar Royal Court, a single application of the high PCA rate (247 mg/liter) at 2 to 3 days after inoculation resulted in 89.5 and 69.5% reduction of shoot blight severity after inoculation. Two applications of PCA 247 mg/liter 12 or 14 days apart, with the first one applied 2 to 3 days after inoculation, resulted in 78.8 and 74.5% reduction of shoot blight severity in both years. A 100% control of canker incidence on perennial wood from infected shoots in both years was achieved with a single application of PCA (247 mg/liter) applied at 2 or 3 days after the inoculation, and three applications of PCA (125 mg/liter) + ASM (25 mg/liter) 12 to 16 days apart reduced canker incidence by 83.5 and 69% in the 2 years. The other programs with lower PCA rates and frequencies of application reduced shoot blight severity 50.8 and 51.8% (PCA) and 62.6 to 72% and 59.3% (PCA + ASM) over 2 years, respectively. Reduction of canker incidence on wood by the other programs was 66.5% and 69 to 90.4% in the two years, respectively. As fire blight cankers lead to death of dwarf apple trees and serve as primary sources of inoculum, our effective PCA and PCA + ASM programs could serve as viable postinfection management options. These treatments can reduce or prevent canker development and thus significantly abate tree losses in high-density apple orchards after fire blight epidemics occur.

Prohexadione-calcium alleviates saline-alkali stress in soybean seedlings by improving the photosynthesis and up-regulating antioxidant defense.

Soil salinization seriously restricts the growth and yield of soybeans. However, little information is available on the early growth stages of soybeans which are subjected to the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor, prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca). This study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous Pro-Ca on saline-alkali stress-induced damages to photosynthesis and antioxidant defenses in soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings. At the V3 growth stage, salt-tolerant genotype Hefeng 50 (HF50) and salt-sensitive genotype Kenfeng 16 (KF16) were subjected to 110 mmol L-1 mixed saline-alkali stress respectively, and then 100 mg L-1 Pro-Ca was sprayed on the leaves. Our results showed that saline-alkali stress accelerated the degradation of thylakoids, inhibited chlorophyll synthesis, reduced shoot dry weight, electron transfer rate (ETR), and peroxidase (POD) activity, the concentration of ascorbic acid (AsA) and soluble sugar, but enhanced the concentration of proline, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the rate of superoxide radical (O2∙-) generation. Additionally, saline-alkali stress induced a lower decrease of the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), potential activity of PSII (Fv/F0), and maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) in salt-tolerant HF50 than in salt-sensitive KF16. Nevertheless, foliar spraying of exogenous Pro-Ca increased the chlorophyll content, Pn, Fv/F0, and Fv/Fm. These results were more prominent when Pro-Ca was applied to KF16 under saline-alkali conditions. Furthermore, exogenous application of Pro-Ca retarded the degradation of thylakoids, increased the ETR and the accumulation of AsA, soluble sugar, and proline, activated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and POD, and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), O2∙-, and H2O2. These results indicated that Pro-Ca could effectively protect soybean seedlings against damage from saline-alkali stress by regulating seedling phenotype, photosynthetic apparatus, antioxidant defense, and osmoregulation.

Prohexadione calcium is herbicidal to the sunflower root parasite Orobanche cumana.

BACKGROUND: The obligatory sunflower root parasite Orobanche cumana Wallr. deprives its host of essential nutrients, resulting in a dramatic reduction in yield and biomass. A post-emergence application with an imidazolinone herbicide on an imidazolinone-tolerant sunflower is highly effective against O. cumana. The herbicide inhibits the enzyme acetohydroxy acid synthase and consequently, growth of the parasite is inhibited, although the sunflower survives the treatment through mutations in the target enzyme. Interestingly, field studies have shown that a combined application of an imidazolinone herbicide with prohexadione resulted in reduced emergence of O. cumana compared with the sole application of the herbicide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether prohexadione is herbicidal to O. cumana. RESULTS: Prohexadione was rapidly distributed within the sunflower, reaching the roots, the site of O. cumana attack, as early as 6 h after application (HAA) on sunflower leaves. A direct impact of prohexadione on O. cumana germination was investigated and a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of 84 µm prohexadione was found. In addition, the inhibition of germination by prohexadione was terminal, meaning that O. cumana seeds died after prohexadione contact as soon as they were primed for germination. Additionally, excretion studies showed that a small proportion of the applied prohexadione was excreted by sunflower roots. CONCLUSION: We show that prohexadione is an inhibitor of O. cumana germination and that the growth regulator is found in sunflower roots shortly after application. We hypothesize that prohexadione is excreted in sufficient amounts from the sunflower roots, therefore having a direct impact on O. cumana germination. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for prohexadione (considered variant prohexadione-calcium) in plums.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF SE submitted a request to the competent national authority in France to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance prohexadione in plums. The data submitted in support of this MRL application were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for plums. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of prohexadione in plums. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of prohexadione on plums is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

Two tank-mix adjuvants effect on yield and quality attributes of wheat treated with growth retardants / Aplicação combinada de retardadores de crescimento com adjuvantes sobre a produtividade e a qualidade do grão de trigo

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of seeds and yield of winter wheat under different retardants application. The two years field trials on winter wheat were carried out in the Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute in Poznan (Poland). Treatments consisted of trinexapac-ethyl, chlormequat and prohexadione calcium applied in mixtures with paraffin oil adjuvant or organosilicone surfactant in BBCH 31 growth stage of winter wheat. No lodging occurred in any experimental year. The retardants had varying effect on the quality parameters of wheat grain. The highest fluctuations in the content of protein, gluten and the Zeleny value were observed after the application of chlormequat chloride. Starch content in wheat grain, regardless of the retardant application method, was negatively correlated with others grain quality parameters evaluated in the experiment. Depending on the year of study and weather conditions, increased or decreased wheat quality.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o tamanho e a qualidade do grão de trigo de inverno em condições de aplicação de diferentes retardadores e a possibilidade de os combinar com adjuvantes e herbicidas. Durante dois anos, o Instituto de Proteção de Plantas - Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa em Poznań (Polônia) realizou ensaios no campo de trigo de inverno. Os tratamentos consistiram em: trinexapac-etil ou clormequat ou prohexadiona-cálcio, aplicados em misturas com óleo adjuvante ou surfactante organossilicone na fase BBCH 31. Não se observou acamamento de plantas em nenhum ano dos ensaios. Os retardadores apresentaram efeitos variados sobre os parâmetros de qualidade do grão de trigo. As maiores variações no teor de proteínas, glúten e no índice de Zeleny foram observadas após a aplicação de clormequat. O teor de amido no grão, independentemente do retardador utilizado e do modo da sua aplicação, foi negativamente correlacionado com outros parâmetros de qualidade avaliados nos ensaios. Dependendo do ano de estudos, aumentava ou reduzia a qualidade do grão.

Effects of plant regulators on the growth and flowering of Saint Augustine grass plants / Efeito de inibidores vegetais sobre o crescimento e o florescimento da grama-santo-agostinho

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of three plant growth inhibitors on the development and emission of floral rachis of Saint Augustine grass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntzel] plants. The study was carried out in a 15 month old lawn with the experimental plots being distributed in accordance with a complete randomized block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of sole application of trinexapac-ethyl (113, 226, 452, 678, and 904 g ai ha-1), prohexadione-calcium (100 and 200 g ai ha-1), and bispyribac-sodium (40 and 60 g ai ha-1) plus a check treatment in which the plants were not submitted to any of the plant growth inhibitors. The effects of those products were evaluated in terms of visual signs of plant intoxication, plant height, emission and height of floral rachises, and chip total dry matter production. All the plant growth inhibitors resulted in visible injury to the plants but these intoxication signs practically disappeared 28 days after the application. Trinexapac-ethyl at the dose of 904 g ai ha-1 reduced plant height by 59.7%, the emission of floral rachis by 96.4%, and the amount of chip dry matter production by 87.7%. Plant growth inhibitors may reduce the number of times of lawn plants cutting up to 119 days after their application with no harmful effects on the plants visual aspect.

Este trabalho teve o propósito de avaliar o efeito da aplicação de três inibidores de desenvolvimento vegetal sobre o crescimento e a emissão de hastes florais da grama-santo-agostinho [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze]. O estudo foi instalado em um gramado com 15 meses de idade, no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e os tratamentos compostos por aplicação única de trinexapac-ethyl (113, 226, 452, 678 e 904 g ia ha-1), prohexadione-calcium (100 e 200 g ia ha-1) e bispyribac-sodium (40 e 60 g ia ha-1), além de uma testemunha sem aplicação de inibidor de crescimento. O efeito dos tratamentos foi avaliado quanto à fitointoxicação, por meio de avaliação visual, altura de plantas, altura e emissão de hastes florais e produção total de massa seca de aparas. Todos os inibidores de desenvolvimento vegetal proporcionaram injúrias visíveis sobre a grama-santo-agostinho, mas todos os sintomas de intoxicação praticamente regrediram aos 28 dias após a aplicação. O trinexapac-ethyl aplicado na dose de 904 g ia ha-1 proporcionou redução de 59,7% na altura da grama, de 96,4% e 87,7% na emissão de hastes florais e na quantidade total de massa seca de aparas produzidas pela grama, respectivamente. Gramados formados com grama-santo-agostinho podem ser manejados com a aplicação de inibidor vegetal, com a redução da necessidade de cortes por um período de até 119 dias após a aplicação, sem efeitos severos sobre o aspecto visual sobre o gramado.

Targeted analysis of polyphenol metabolism during development of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cones following treatment with prohexadione-calcium.

Hops (Humulus lupulus), a main ingredient in beer, are valued as a source of bitter flavour and biologically active polyphenols. We treated immature hop cones with prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca), a flavanone-3-hydroxylase (F3H) inhibitor, to perturb the flavonoid pathway, and conducted a targeted analysis of 29 compounds from the phenolic acid, flavonoid, and terpenophenolic pathways, using photodiode array (UHPLC-PDA), and time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) analysis. Hop cones were analysed over four stages of development spanning 22days following Pro-Ca treatment. The content of terpenophenolics as well as metabolic precursors upstream from F3H significantly increased, and levels of flavonoid products downstream from F3H decreased. The methods developed here serve to compliment flavour analysis of polyphenol rich foods, and our results suggest ways to improve upon traditional agricultural methods to produce hops with altered chemical profiles.

Mitigation of postharvest chilling injury in tomato fruit by prohexadione calcium.

Storage of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as originally tropical fruit is limited by the risk of chilling injury (CI). To develop an effective technique to reduce CI, the effects of treatment with 0, 50 and 100 µM prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca) on CI, electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline contents, and activities of phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX), were investigated in tomato fruit stored at 1°C for 21 days. Treatment with Pro-Ca, without significant difference between two applied concentrations, significantly mitigated chilling injury. Also, Pro-Ca treatment maintained lower levels of EL and MDA content, higher level of proline content and inhibited the increases in PLD and LOX activities compared with the control fruit. These results suggest that Pro-Ca might mitigate CI by inhibiting PLD and LOX activities and by enhancing membrane integrity.

Aumento da produção de pereira asiática pelo uso de fitorreguladores / Fruit production increase in Asian pear trees by use of plant growth regulators

A baixa frutificação de pereiras nas condições do Sul do Brasil é um dos limitantes à produção da cultura no país, podendo o problema ser minimizado pelo uso de fitorreguladores. Objetivou-se avaliar a efetividade de diferentes fitorreguladores e a combinação dessas substâncias no aumento da frutificação de pereira asiática 'Shinseiki. A aplicação dos fitorreguladores foi realizada quando as pereiras atingiram o estádio de plena floração. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições de uma planta, sendo avaliados os seguintes tratamentos: 1. testemunha (sem aplicação); 2. thidiazuron (TDZ) 20mg L-1; 3. ácido giberélico (AG) 20mg L-1; 4. proexadione cálcio (PCa) 600mg L-1; 5. PCa 600mg L-1 + TDZ 20mg L-1; 6. PCa 600mg L-1 + AG 20mg L-1; e 7. AG 20mg L-1 + TDZ 20mg L-1. Os fitorreguladores thidiazuron e ácido giberélico, e a combinação dessas substâncias, ambos na concentração de 20mg L-1, quando aplicados na floração, determinam aumento significativo da frutificação e da produção de peras 'Shinseiki'. A utilização do proexadione cálcio na floração, tanto isoladamente quanto associado ao thidiazuron e ao ácido giberélico, não repercutiu no aumento da frutificação.

The low fruit set in the Southern Brazil conditions is one of the limiting factors to pear production in the country. The use of plant growth regulators may minimize this problem. This study was carried out aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of different growth regulators and the combination of these substances on fruit set increase of 'Shinseiki Asian pears. The application of growth regulators was performed when the pears have reached the full bloom stage. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications of one tree, with the following treatments: 1. control (no application); 2. thidiazuron (TDZ) 20mg L-1; 3. gibberellic acid (GA) 20mg L-1; 4. prohexadione calcium (PCa) 600mg L-1; 5. PCa 600mg L-1 TDZ + 20mg L-1; 6. PCa 600mg L-1 + AG 20mg L-1; and 7. AG 20mg L-1 + TDZ 20mg L-1. When sprayed on full bloom stage, thidiazuron and gibberellic acid, and combinations of these substances, both at a concentration of 20mg L-1, increased significantly the fruit set and the fruit production of 'Shinseiki' pears. The use of prohexadione calcium, single or in combination with thidiazuron and gibberellic acid, did not increase the fruit production.