Accumulation of stress ethylene in plants due to osmotic stress is a major challenge for the achievement of optimum sweet corn crop yield with limited availability of irrigation water. A significant increase in earth’s temperature is also making the conditions more crucial regarding the availability of ample quantity of irrigation water for crops production. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can play an imperative role in this regard. Inoculation of rhizobacteria can provide resistance and adaptability to crops against osmotic stress. In addition, these rhizobacteria also have potential to solve future food security issues. That's why the current study was planned to examine the efficacious functioning ofPseudomonas fluorescensstrains on yields and physiological characteristics of sweet corn (Zea maysL. var saccharata) under different levels of irrigation. Three irrigation levels i.e., 100% (I₁₀₀no stress), 80% (I₈₀), and 60% (I₆₀) were used during sweet corn cultivation. However, there were four rhizobacteria strains i.e.,P. fluorescensP₁,P. fluorescensP₃,P. fluorescensP₈,P. fluorescensP₁₄which were used in the experiment. The results showed that severe water stress (60% of plant water requirement) decreased chlorophylla, chlorophyllb, and total chlorophyll contents,Fv/Fmratio and nutrients uptake. A significant increase in F₀, F_m, proline, total soluble sugars, catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activity led to less ear yield and canned seed yield. Combination of four strains significantly increased the yield traits of sweet corn i.e., ear and (44%) and canned seed yield (27%) over control. The highest promoting effect was observed in the combination of four strains treatment and followed by P₁strain in reducing the harmful effects of drought stress and improving sweet corn productivity. However, P₁₄gave minimum improvement in growth and yield indices under limited availability of water. In conclusion, combination of four strains inoculation is an efficacious approach for the achievement of better yield of sweet corn under osmotic stress.

The experiment was conducted in order to study effects of seeds priming with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0, 3, 5 and 8 mM on germination, growth and antioxidant enzymes activity in alfalfa seedlings under salinity stress (200 mM NaCl). All control seeds germinated. The rate of germinated seeds was reduced to 48% in the presence of NaCl, and increased to 76% after seeds priming with 5 mM GA ₃ . Priming with 5 mM GA3 was also correlated with an increase of dry weight of seedlings derived from both stressed and non-stressed seeds as well as with the reduction of electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in salt stressed seedlings. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase in primed and non-primed seeds increased in the presence of NaCl and after priming of seeds with 5 mM GA ₃ , whereas only small effect on glutathione reductase activity in both primed and non-primed seeds was observed. The total ascorbate level was higher in both stressed and non-stressed seedlings from primed seeds. These results suggest that GA3 priming might increase the salt tolerance of alfalfa seedlings through enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and reducing the membrane damage as estimated using biomarkers, EL index and MDA content.

Seed fatty acid composition can influence seed quality, followed by seed germination and optimal seedling establishment. Therefore, to find out the role of seed fatty acids in changing the cardinal temperatures of six sesame cultivars germinated at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C) and water potentials (0, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, −0.8, −1, and −1.2 MPa), an experiment was conducted. The dent-like, beta, and segmented models were used to analyze the data. The results showed that different cultivars at optimal temperatures show different reactions to environmental conditions; for example, the germination rate in Halil and Dashtestan2 cultivars followed the dent-like model, Darab1, Oltan, and Yellow-White followed the beta model, and Naz followed the segmented model. Based on the results, the average temperature in all water potentials of the base, sub-optimal, supra-optimum, and ceiling was determined as 12.6, 33.3, 38, and 43.9 °C, respectively, once the superior dent-like model was used. Using the superior beta model, the average temperatures in the base, optimum, and ceiling were 8.5, 31.2, and 50.5 °C. In contrast, when the segmented superior model was used, they were determined to be 7.6, 34, and 44.1 °C, respectively. According to the results, it can be stated that the Halil cultivar with more oleic acid and less linoleic acid has a higher base temperature and is more adapted to high temperatures for later cultivations. The Naz cultivar with a long biological clock is suitable for earlier cultivations. The ceiling temperature of these cultivars was also affected by the osmotic potential and decreased significantly with the increase in osmotic levels. Dashtestan2 cultivar with a high germination rate could be chosen for cultivation in water and high-temperature stress areas.

Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) var. Saccharata is a tropical and semitropical annual cereal with low germination, poor vigor, and weak seedling establishment in the soil. In order to enhance the physical properties of sweet corn and examine the effects of seed coating on the morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of sweet corn seedlings under drought stress conditions, we conducted a factorial experiment in greenhouse conditions. Seed coating was carried out using a mixture of vermiculite (V), kaolin (K), and perlite (P) in a ratio of 3:1.5:2. The main factors of the greenhouse experiment comprised three levels of coating treatment (chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), NaAlg 1% + V10K2.5P5 (gr), and non-coated seeds as a control) along with drought stress at four levels (0, -0.3, -0.6, and -0.9 bar). In greenhouse conditions, the growth indexes of sweet corn seedlings were studied under increasing levels of drought stress. The results showed that as drought stress levels increased, certain growth indicators such as seedling emergence and seedling emergence rate, soluble protein, chlorophyll total content, nitrogen, and phosphorus content decreased. On the other hand, mean emergence, proline, potassium, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide were increased. The study found that the highest seedling emergence percentage occurred in the coating treatment of chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) at all levels of drought stress. Overall, seed coating with the Chitosan 0.5% + V10K2.5P5 (gr) treatment improved the performance of sweet corn seeds and reduced the negative effects of drought stress by increasing seedling emergence and establishment.