Quantification of Individual and Interactive Effects of Some Antioxidants on Drought Tolerance in Cuminum cyminum L.

The growth and metabolism of plants are significantly affected by primary abiotic stresses such as heat and drought. The interplay between antioxidants and plant drought tolerance is documented excellently. However, conventional techniques, including correlation analysis, are insufficient for elucidating the relationship between antioxidants and biomass content. This study aimed to assess the individual and interactive impacts of six antioxidants on cumin biomass content through non-linear multiple regression analysis. Field experiments were carried out at two sites in Iran in 2020. The experimental treatments included a factorial split-plot arrangement of magnetic water (conventional and magnetized waters), deficit irrigation at 100%, 70%, and 40% of water requirement, and superabsorbent at 0, 100, and 200 kg/ha, resulting in diverse trait variations. The findings indicate the harmful effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) on biomass content. However, anthocyanins partially mitigated their adverse impacts, showing a synergistic promotion of biomass content when combined with anthocyanins, SOD, and CAT. Carotenoids did not individually favor biomass content; however, their interactions with SOD and anthocyanins prompted biomass content. Regarding influencing biomass content, the antioxidants demonstrated the following impact in descending order: peroxidase (POD), anthocyanins, carotenoids, proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The estimated optimal activities or concentrations of antioxidants, derived from maximizing the regression function, resulted in a 12% increase in biomass content, offering potential applications in breeding programs.

Quantification of Individual and Interactive Effects of Some Antioxidants on Drought Tolerance in Cuminum cyminum L. Keywords:

Individual effects , Interactive effects , Synergism , antagonism , cumin