Exogenous Tebuconazole and Trifloxystrobin Regulates Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Toward Mitigating Salt-Induced Damages in Cucumber Seedling

Abstract

The present study investigated the role of tebuconazole (TEB) and trifloxystrobin (TRI) on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Tokiwa) under salt stress (60 mM NaCl). The cucumber plants were grown semi-hydroponically in a glasshouse. Plants were exposed to two different doses of fungicides (1.375 µM TEB + 0.5 µM TRI and 2.75 µM TEB + 1.0 µM TRI) solely and in combination with NaCl (60 mM) for six days. The application of salt phenotypically deteriorated the cucumber plant growth that caused yellowing of the whole plant and significantly destructed the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids. The oxidative damage was created under salinity by increasing the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and electrolytic leakage (EL) resulting in the disruption of the antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, in the leaves, stems, and roots of cucumber plants increased Na⁺ content was observed under salt stress, whereas the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and contents of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ decreased. In contrast, the exogenous application of TEB and TRI reduced the contents of MDA, H₂O₂, and EL by improving the activities of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. In addition, ion homeostasis was regulated by reducing Na⁺ uptake and enhanced K⁺ accumulation and the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio after application of TEB and TRI. Therefore, this study indicates that the exogenous application of TEB and TRI enhanced salt tolerance in cucumber plants by regulating reactive oxygen speciesproduction and antioxidant defense systems.

Keywords: antioxidant defense; biocatalyst; fungicides; osmotic stress; reactive oxygen species.