Lanthanum chloride improves maize grain yield by promoting photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidants enzymes and endogenous hormone at reproductive stages

Abstract Despite an increase in application spectrum of rare earth elements in agriculture, all studies show that the suitable accumulation of rare earth elements can improve the crop seedling growth, but there is little research about REEs on physiological mechanisms of crops at reproductive stages. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the possible potential benefits of lanthanum chloride (LaCl 3 ) on the senescence and grain yield responses of maize. In this study, maize seeds were pre-treated by soaking with LaCl 3 at the concentrations of 0 (CK), 400 (LC1), 800 (LC2) and 1200 (LC3) μmol/L, to evaluate its effect on the green leaf area, chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis, antioxidants, endogenous hormones in the later crop growth stages. The results show that LC1 and LC2 treatments evidently increase green leaf area, above ground dry biomass, accompanied by a distinct increase in the chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic capacity, which promote the ear characteristics and grain yield of maize. In addition, LC1 and LC2 treatments simultaneously increase the activities of antioxidants, including superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases, soluble protein, and enhanced levels of auxin, gibberellin and zeatin, following a dose-response tendency. Themalondialdehyde and abscisic acid levels transiently increase with the progression in the growth stage of the crop but are markedly decreased at LC1 and LC2 treatments, while LC3 treatment has no significant effect on malondialdehyde and even accelerates the accumulation of abscisic acid in maize leaves. Our data suggest that seed priming with LaCl 3 at a suitable concentration range (400–800 μmol/L) can prolong the functional periods of leaves, increase photosynthetic capacity, enhance antioxidant activity, and alter endogenous hormone levels at reproductive stages, resulting in delaying leaf senescence rate and increasing yield. However, the moderate concentration of LaCl 3 for maize is LC2 (800 μmol/L), and can be effectively used to improve grain yield of maize.