ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Carboxymethyl Chitosan Improves Sugar Beet Tolerance to Drought by Controlling Enzyme Activity and Stomatal Conductance
 
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1
Central Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
 
2
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
 
3
Agricultural Biotechnology Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
 
4
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
 
5
Sugar Technology Research Department, Sugar Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 12619, Giza, Egypt
 
6
Arid Land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural and Food Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
 
7
Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
 
8
Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Hadayek Shoubra 11241, Cairo, Egypt
 
 
Submission date: 2024-02-12
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-03-09
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-03-29
 
 
Online publication date: 2024-07-16
 
 
Corresponding author
Hossam S. El-Beltagi   

Agricultural Biotechnology Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Two field experiments were implemented to assess the possible protective role of chitosan against drought in sugar beet plants. Two carboxymethyl chitosan rates (0, tap water, and 200 mg L−1) were applied under three trickle irrigation levels of 60%, 80%, and 100% of the actual required water for the crop (W60, W80, and W100, respectively). Findings clarified that the maximum increase in catalase enzyme activity, flavonoids, and carotenoids was recorded under severe drought (W60) or moderate drought (W80) with chitosan supply. The chitosan-induced increase in the activity of glutathione peroxidase was more pronounced at the 60% level of watering. Chitosan increased the stomatal opening and pore area under different drought degrees. Owing to chitosan application, the increases in root yield reached 4.6 and 4.7% under well-watered (W100) and water deficit (W60), respectively. Chitosan application resulted in 4.9 and 9.2% increases in extracted sugar and sugar yield, respectively, under sufficient watering. Chitosan achieved substantial reductions in potassium and sodium under W60, which amounted to 2.6 and 8.0%, respectively. The increases in extracted sugar and sugar yield due to chitosan spraying were 5.3 and 10.7% with W60, as well as 7.4 and 12.1% with W100, respectively. Furthermore, chitosan improved water use efficiency by 9.6% compared to the control (plants untreated with chitosan). In conclusion, under normal or deficit water irrigation conditions, treating the sugar beet crop with 200 mg L−1 of carboxymethyl chitosan is recommended to ensure better sugar yield and sugary juice quality while improving water use efficiency.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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