Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 10

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal crop, and its early growth may be impaired by aflatoxin B1 through effects on seed germination, seedling development and photosynthetic pigment accumulation. The present study investigated whether the phytohormones gibberellic acid (GA3) and kinetin could mitigate aflatoxin B1-induced growth inhibition in maize seeds of var. Madhuri-01. Seeds were treated with aflatoxin B1, GA3 and kinetin, separately and in combination, at 2.0 ppm. Seed germination was recorded after five days, whereas root and shoot lengths were measured after seven days. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents were estimated using established procedures. The data were analysed using a t-test for seed germination and F-test/analysis of variance for seedling growth and pigment parameters. Treatment with aflatoxin B1 alone inhibited seed germination, root length, shoot length, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid content by 78.57%, 65.03%, 63%, 74%, 72% and 85%, respectively, compared with the control. In contrast, combined treatment with aflatoxin B1 and the tested phytohormones reduced the extent of inhibition. In the presence of aflatoxin B1, GA3 showed 10.20%, 8.79% and 19.00% inhibition for seed germination, root length and shoot length, respectively, while kinetin showed corresponding inhibition values of 19.38%, 11.55% and 21.00%. GA3 and kinetin also reduced the inhibitory effect of aflatoxin B1 on chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. These findings indicate that GA3 and kinetin can partly reverse aflatoxin B1-induced inhibition during early maize growth. Further physiological and molecular studies are required to clarify the mechanisms involved.