The effect of seed priming with growth regulators and foliar spraying of zinc and magnesium nanoparticles on the growth and performance of the medicinal plant (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.DON) under drought stress conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Varamin (Pishva), Azad University Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Varamin(Pishva) Azad University, tehran, iran

3 Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Varamin Azad (Pishva) University , Tehran, Iran

4 Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Varamin (Pishva) Azad University , Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of priming growth regulators auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin (each at a concentration of 50 ppm) and spraying zinc nanoparticles, magnesium, under drought stress conditions (at three levels of 40, 60, and 80 mm from the evaporation pan) on the fresh and dry weight of aerial parts, the number of lateral branches containing alkaloids, RWC, plant height and stem diameter of the medicinal plant Perwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.DON) as a factorial and completely randomized design over two years (1399 and 1400) was carried out in the form of pots in the bahonar camp of Tehran. The results showed that the main effects of seed priming with growth regulators, foliar spraying and drought stress on all the mentioned traits had a significant effect at the probability level of %1. The mutual effects of seed priming with growth regulators and drought stress showed a statistical difference of %1 compared to the control treatment, except for shoot fresh weight and plant height. In the investigation of the double interaction of drought stress and nanoparticles, as well as the mutual effects of growth regulators and nanoparticles on the dry weight of aerial parts at the probability level of %5 and on RWC at the probability level of %1, a difference was observed compared to the control treatment. Also, in the triple interaction of drought stress, growth regulators, and foliar application of nanoparticles and drought stress on shoot dry weight and relative water content, a significant difference was observed at the %1 probability level compared to the control treatment, and there was no significant difference in other traits. The highest dry weight of aerial parts was obtained under optimal irrigation conditions and under the influence of gibberellic acid hormone and the simultaneous consumption of zinc and magnesium elements (63 grams per plant), and severe stress treatment, auxin hormone and the combination of zinc and magnesium had the greatest effect on the relative water content of leaves with %51. Finally, drought stress caused a significant difference in all studied indicators compared to the control treatment. Among hormones, the role of gibberellin hormone and among nanoparticles the role of zinc.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Introduction:

Perwinkle medicinal plant with the scientific name (Catharanthus roseus) is considered one of the most important medicinal plants in the world due to the presence of valuable alkaloids in its vegetative body. This plant has vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids in the leaves, which are used in the treatment of various types of cancer, and the root of the plant also contains ajmalysin, which is effective in the treatment of low blood pressure.  This plant belongs to the Apocynaceae family. This plant has vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids in the leaves and ajmalysin in the roots.

Methods:

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of priming growth regulators auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin (each at a concentration of 50 ppm) and spraying zinc (1mg) nanoparticles, magnesium (0/5mg), and a mixture of zinc and magnesium (0.5 and 0.25 mg respectively) under drought stress conditions from an evaporation pan (at three levels of 40, 60, and 80 mm) on the fresh and dry weight of aerial parts, the number of lateral branches containing alkaloids, RWC, the height and stem diameter of the medicinal plant Perwinkle as a factorial and completely randomized design over two years (1399 and 1400) was carried out in the form of pots in the Bahnar camp of Tehran. Statistical calculations of the data using SAS statistical software (version 9.1), and Bartlett's test was used to check the uniformity of the variance of the data of the two years of the experiment. Also, to compare the averages, Duncan's multi-range test was used and graphs were drawn using Excel software.

Results

The results showed that the main effects of seed priming with growth regulators, foliar spraying and drought stress on all the mentioned traits had a significant effect at the probability level of %1. The mutual effects of seed priming with growth regulators and drought stress showed a statistical difference of %1 compared to the control treatment, except for shoot fresh weight and plant height. In the investigation of the double interaction of drought stress and nanoparticles, as well as the mutual effects of growth regulators and nanoparticles on the dry weight of aerial parts at the probability level of %5 and on RWC at the probability level of %1, a difference was observed compared to the control treatment. Also, in the triple interaction of drought stress, growth regulators, and foliar application of nanoparticles and drought stress on shoot dry weight and relative water content, a significant difference was observed at the %1 probability level compared to the control treatment, and there was no significant difference in other traits. The highest dry weight of aerial parts was obtained under optimal irrigation conditions and under the influence of gibberellic acid hormone and the simultaneous consumption of zinc and magnesium elements (63 grams per plant), and severe stress treatment, auxin hormone and the combination of zinc and magnesium had the greatest effect on the relative water content of leaves with %51.

Finally, drought stress caused a significant difference in all studied indicators compared to the control treatment. Among hormones, the role of gibberellin hormone and among nanoparticles the role of zinc

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, HR.TM. First instructor, Research topic design, project administration. B.S. conducted the experiment, writing-review and editing. F. Gh. data curation, determination of treatments, measurements. M.O. methodology. P.K. collaborated on the research as consultants. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the reviewers and editor for their critical comments that helped to improve the paper. Also, thanks to all those who played a role in the implementation of this plan.

Ethical considerations

The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 56, Issue 4
July 2025
Pages 995-1010

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