A mixture of trehalose derivatives mitigates the adverse effects of water deficits in maize: An analysis of photosynthetic efficiency

Abstract

This study tested a tosylated and azide trehalose derivative mixture for its ability to mitigate water deficit-induced stress in maize via photosynthetic efficiency analyses. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse pots, using a maize hybrid that is sensitive to drought. The mixture of derivatives (28 mM) was applied with a hand sprayer. Plants containing five/six fully expanded leaves were subjected to water deficit stress for 12 d, followed by rehydration. The derivative mixture increased the photosynthetic rate, electron transport rate, and photochemical quenching, and mitigated damage to photosystem II. Moreover, it led to anatomical modifications in the leaf that increased the photosynthetic rate. These results suggest that the trehalose derivative mixture mitigates stress-induced damage in the maize hybrid and may represent a new stimulant for water-deficit tolerance.