Effects of different plant hormones or PEG seed soaking on maize resistance to drought stress

Yuan, Z., Wang, C., Li, S., Li, X. and Tai, F. 2014. Effects of different plant hormones or PEG seed soaking on maize resistance to drought stress. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1491-1499. Drought stress has a major impact on plant growth and productivity, and seed soaking is an important way to increase seedling resistance to drought stress. This study investigated whether drought hardening chemicals, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), or plant growth regulators enhance plant drought tolerance. The effects of PEG and several plant hormones, such as indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid 3, 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress were analyzed. The results revealed that seed soaking with 5×10-3 mg L-1 6-BA or 10% PEG improved maize seed germination parameters under drought stress, including seedlings dry weight, seed vigor and germination rate. In addition, some physiological indices, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, soluble protein contents and ...