Abstract: |
Bee-honey solution (BHS) is considered a plant growth multi-biostimulator because it is
rich in osmoprotectants, antioxidants, vitamins, and mineral nutrients that can promote drought
stress (DtS) resistance in common bean plants. As a novel strategy, BHS has been used in a few
studies, which shows that the application of BHS can overcome the stress effects on plant productivity and can contribute significantly to bridging the gap between agricultural production and the
steady increase in population under climate changes. Under sufficient watering (SW (100% of crop
evapotranspiration; ETc) and DtS (60% of ETc)), the enhancing impacts of foliar application with
BHS (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) on growth, productivity, yield quality, physiological-biochemical
indices, antioxidative defense ingredients, and nutrient status were examined in common bean
plants (cultivar Bronco). DtS considerably decreased growth and yield traits, green pod quality, and
water use efficiency (WUE); however, application of BHS at all concentrations significantly increased all of these parameters under normal or DtS conditions. Membrane stability index, relative
water content, nutrient contents, SPAD (chlorophyll content), and PSII efficiency (Fv/Fm, photochemical activity, and performance index) were markedly reduced under DtS; however, they increased significantly under normal or DtS conditions by foliar spraying of BHS at all concentrations.
The negative impacts of DtS were due to increased oxidants [hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2•−)], electrolyte leakage (EL), and malondialdehyde (MDA). As a result, the activity of the
antioxidant system (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, superoxide dismutase,
α-tocopherol, glutathione, and ascorbate) and levels of osmoprotectants (soluble protein, soluble
sugars, glycine betaine, and proline) were increased. However, all BHS concentrations further increased osmoprotectant and antioxidant capacity, along with decreased MDA and EL under DtS.
What is interesting in this study was that a BHS concentration of 1.0% gave the best results under
SW, while a BHS concentration of 1.5% gave the best results under DtS. Therefore, a BHS concentration of 1.5% could be a viable strategy to mitigate the DtS impairment in common beans to
achieve satisfactory growth, productivity, and green pod quality under DtS
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