Effect of Zinc and Bio Fertilizers on Antioxidant Enzymes Activity, Chlorophyll Content, Soluble Sugars and Proline in Triticale Under Salinity Condition

Abstract

In order to study the effects of bio fertilizers and zinc fertilizer on antioxidant enzymes activity, chlorophyll content, soluble sugars and proline in triticale under salinity condition, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications under greenhouse condition. Experiment factors were included salinity in four levels [no-salt (control or S₀), salinity 20 (S₁), 40 (S₂) and 60 (S₃) mM NaCl) equivalent of 1.85, 3.7 and 5.55 dS m^−1 respectively], four bio fertilizers levels (no bio fertilizer (F₀), application of mycorrhiza (F₁), PGPR (F₂), both application PGPR and mycorrhiza (F₃) and three nano zinc oxide levels (without nano zinc oxide as control (Zn₀), application of  0.4 (Zn₁) and 0.8 (Zn₂) g lit^-1). Results showed that salinity severe stress (60 mM) decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid and grain yield of triticale, whereas soluble sugars and proline content, the activities of Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD) Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) enzymes increased. Results showed that both application of bio fertilizer and 0.8 g lit^-1 nano zinc oxide (F₃Zn₂) increased about 39% from grain yield in comparison with F₀Zn₀ under the highest salinity level. Based on the results, it was concluded that bio fertilizers and nano zinc oxide application can be recommended for profitable triticale production under salinity condition.