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Deteriorating Harmful Effects of Drought in Cucumber by Spraying Glycinebetain

Research Authors
El-Saied E. Metwaly , Hatim M. Al-Yasi 2, Esmat F. Ali , , Hamada A. Farouk and Saad Farouk
Research Abstract

In order to alleviate the shortage of irrigation water in dry regions, refining water use

efficiency (WUE) is a key issue in sustainable productivity. Furthermore, glycinebetaine (GlyBet) is a

vital osmoprotectant produced in crops for improving drought tolerance; however, little is known

about its role in improving plant WUE under field conditions in non-accumulating plants such

as cucumber. In order to elucidate the effectiveness of GlyBet concentrations (0, 2000, 4000, and

6000 mg/L) in mitigating the deleterious effects of drought (e.g., well-watered (1250 m3/fed), moderate

drought (950 m3/fed), and severe drought (650 m3/fed)), field experiments were conducted at

Elmia village, Dakahlia, Egypt in the 2020 and 2021 seasons on vegetative growth, some physiological

attributes, as well as yield and quality. Drought considerably decreased vegetative growth, yield and

its components, leaf relative water content, and photosynthetic pigment concentrations compared

with well-watered plants while increasing electrolyte leakage. The most harmful causes were severe

drought. However, exogenous spraying with GlyBet substantially boosted the mentioned attributes,

but reduced electrolyte leakage within well-watering. Commonly 6000 mg/L contributed to the maximum

growth and productivity, preserving cucumber plant water status above other concentrations or

untreated plants. Under extreme drought, the application of 6000 mg/L GlyBet had a beneficial effect

on moderating the damage of water deficit on cucumber plant growth and productivity. Overall,

using GlyBet as a cost-effective and eco-friendly biostimulant six times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days

from sowing) has the potential to mitigate drought damage while also increasing yield; however,

more research is needed to determine the optimal rate and timing of application.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
agriculture
Research Publisher
MDPI
Research Rank
Q1
Research Year
2022
Research Pages
16