article · Plants
Drought stress restricts the growth of okra by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. An investigation examined the effects of applying Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract as a foliar spray to okra plants subjected to varying watering intervals after thirty days of cultivation. Water deficit lowered overall chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid levels, while raising levels of anthocyanin, proline, and protective antioxidant enzymes. Applying the seaweed extract substantially lessened these physiological disturbances and counteracted visible reductions in plant growth. In particular, a spray concentration of 0.3 percent markedly increased chlorophyll abundance as well as the activities of anthocyanin, proline, and antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and catalase. Overall, the extract improved physiological functions under both normal and water-limited conditions, indicating potential for building drought tolerance in okra.
Water scarcity poses a serious threat to vegetable production by inhibiting plant growth and metabolism. Demonstrating that a natural seaweed extract can stimulate antioxidant defences and sustain chlorophyll content provides a practical agronomic approach to mitigating drought damage in okra, helping maintain crop vitality and productivity in regions susceptible to irregular rainfall.
This work points to the use of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract as an agricultural biostimulant for vegetable growers facing drought conditions. The primary beneficiaries would be agrochemical or organic input manufacturers and okra producers. The evidence reflects early-stage, applied experimental research, having established that a 0.3 percent foliar dose confers physiological protection, though wider farm-scale testing is not described in the abstract.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Drought stress restricts the growth of okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i> L.) primarily by disrupting its physiological and biochemical functions. This study evaluated the role of <i>Ascophyllum nodosum</i> extract (ANE) in improving the drought tolerance of okra. Drought stress (3 days (control), 6 days (mild stress), and 9 days (severe stress)) and 4 doses of ANE (0, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) were imposed after 30 days of cultivation. The results indicate that drought stress decreases the chlorophyll content (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid) but increases the activity of anthocyanin, proline, and antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Physiological and biochemical plant disturbances and visible growth reduction in okra under drought stress were significantly decreased by the application of ANE foliar spray. ANE spray (0.3%) significantly increased the chlorophyll abundance and activity of anthocyanin, proline, and antioxidants (APX, POD, and CAT). ANE regulated and improved biochemical and physiological functions in okra under both drought and control conditions. The results of the current study show that ANE foliar spray may improve the growth performance of okra and result in the development of drought tolerance in okra.
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DOI: 10.3390/plants11060790
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