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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2019, Vol. 18 Issue (2): 395-406    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)61953-7
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Effects of potassium deficiency on photosynthesis, chloroplast ultrastructure, ROS, and antioxidant activities in maize (Zea mays L.)
DU Qi1, ZHAO Xin-hua1, XIA Le2, JIANG Chun-ji1, WANG Xiao-guang1, HAN Yi1, WANG Jing1, YU Hai-qiu
1 College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, P.R.China
2 Bureau of Liaoning Provincial Seed Management, Shenyang 110034, P.R.China
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Abstract  
Potassium (K) deficiency significantly decreases photosynthesis due to leaf chlorosis induced by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).  But, the physiological mechanism for adjusting antioxidative defense system to protect leaf function in maize (Zea mays L.) is unknown.  In the present study, four maize inbred lines (K-tolerant, 90-21-3 and 099; K-sensitive, D937 and 835) were used to analyze leaf photosynthesis, anatomical structure, chloroplast ultrastructure, ROS, and antioxidant activities.  The results showed that the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), photochemical quenching (qP), and electron transport rate of PSII (ETR) in 90-21-3 and 099 were higher than those in D937 and 835 under K deficiency treatment.  Parameters of leaf anatomical structure in D937 that were significantly changed under K deficiency treatment include smaller thickness of leaf, lower epidermis cells, and vascular bundle area, whereas the vascular bundle area, xylem vessel number, and area in 90-21-3 were significantly larger or higher.  D937 also had seriously damaged chloroplasts and PSII reaction centers along with increased superoxide anion (O2-·) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).  Activities of antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were significantly stimulated in 90-21-3 resulting in lower levels of O2-· and H2O2.  These results indicated that the K-tolerant maize promoted antioxidant enzyme activities to maintain ROS homeostasis and suffered less oxidative damage on the photosynthetic apparatus, thereby maintaining regular photosynthesis under K deficiency stress.
Keywords:  potassium deficiency        maize,      photosynthesis        chloroplast ultrastructure        ROS and antioxidant  
Received: 05 December 2017   Accepted:
Fund: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771725 and 31301259) and the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2013BAD07B03).
Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence YU Hai-qiu, Tel: +86-24-88498446, Fax: +86-24-88487135, E-mail: haiqiuyu@163.com   
About author:  DU Qi, E-mail: duqi0506@126.com;

Cite this article: 

DU Qi, ZHAO Xin-hua, XIA Le, JIANG Chun-ji, WANG Xiao-guang, HAN Yi, WANG Jing, YU Hai-qiu. 2019. Effects of potassium deficiency on photosynthesis, chloroplast ultrastructure, ROS, and antioxidant activities in maize (Zea mays L.). Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 18(2): 395-406.

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