Foliar spraying exogenous ABA resists chilling stress on adzuki beans (Vigna angularis)

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Stress Tolerance

Background:

• Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is a vital legume crop.
• It demonstrates limited tolerance to low-temperature stress, impacting yield.
• Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a role in plant stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on adzuki bean physiology.
• To determine ABA's efficacy in mitigating low-temperature stress effects on yield.

Main Methods:

• Potted experiment with two adzuki bean cultivars (LXD 4, TJH).
• Application of exogenous ABA or water spray during the flowering stage.
• Exposure to controlled low-temperature conditions (12°C and 15°C).
• Measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities, non-enzymatic antioxidant content, and oxidative stress markers.

Main Results:

• Exogenous ABA increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT).
• ABA elevated non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, glutathione).
• ABA inhibited oxidative stress markers (MDA, H2O2, O2-· production).
• ABA application reduced yield loss under chilling stress by 5.81%-39.84%.

Conclusions:

• Foliar ABA application improves adzuki bean's antioxidant defense.
• ABA effectively alleviates negative impacts of low-temperature stress on adzuki bean yield.
• ABA treatment is crucial for stable adzuki bean production under chilling conditions.