Mitigating Salt Stress in Maize Seedlings: Comparative Effects of Lemon Juice and Citric Acid Application

Tuğba Sarıca; Süleyman Avcı

doi:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1695598

TR EN

Mısır Fidelerinde Tuz Stresinin Azaltılması: Limon Suyu ve Sitrik Asit Uygulamalarının Karşılaştırmalı Etkileri

Öz

Bu çalışma, iki ticari mısır (Zea mays L.) çeşidi olan DKC6050 ve P2088’in tuz stresine karşı morfolojik ve fizyolojik yanıtları üzerine dışsal limon suyu (LJ) ve sitrik asit (CA) uygulamalarının etkilerini araştırmıştır. Bitkiler, hem tuzsuz (Saf su) hem de tuzlu koşullarda (15 dS m⁻¹ NaCl) saf su (kontrol), CA (100 ppm) ve LJ (%5) ile yapraktan uygulamaya tabi tutulmuştur. Değerlendirilen parametreler; bitki boyu, yaş ağırlık, yaprak alanı, SPAD değeri, yaprak bağıl su içeriği (LRWC), elektrolit sızıntısı, stoma yoğunluğu ve iyonik göstergeler (Na⁺, K⁺ ve Na⁺/K⁺ oranı) olarak belirlenmiştir. Tuz stresi altında, CA ve LJ uygulamaları her iki çeşitte de bitki boyu ve yaş ağırlık üzerinde anlamlı bir artış sağlamamıştır. Bununla birlikte, DKC6050 çeşidinde CA uygulaması; yaprak alanı, SPAD değeri ve LRWC açısından anlamlı artışlar sağlamış, bu da fotosentetik kapasite ve su tutma potansiyelinde iyileşmeye işaret etmiştir. P2088 çeşidinde ise LJ uygulaması, yaprak alanı, stoma yoğunluğu ve SPAD değerlerini artırmış; elektrolit sızıntısını ve Na⁺ birikimini azaltmış ve Na⁺/K⁺ oranını iyileştirerek iyonik dengenin korunmasına katkı sağlamıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, CA ve LJ uygulamalarının tuz stresini hafifletme etkinliğinin genotipe bağlı olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. DKC6050 çeşidi, su durumu ve klorofil stabilitesinde daha olumlu tepkiler verirken; P2088 çeşidi, membran bütünlüğü ve iyonik dengeyi sürdürme açısından daha güçlü yanıtlar göstermiştir. Bu sonuçlar, mısırda tuzluluk stresinin yönetiminde organik asit temelli uygulamalarda genotipe özgü stratejilerin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Mitigating Salt Stress in Maize Seedlings: Comparative Effects of Lemon Juice and Citric Acid Application

Abstract

This study examined the effects of exogenous lemon juice (LJ) and citric acid (CA) applications on the morphological and physiological responses of two commercial maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars, DKC6050 and P2088, under salt stress conditions. Plants were treated with distilled water (control), CA (100 ppm), and LJ (5%) as foliar applications under both non-saline (Distilled water) and saline conditions (15 dS m⁻¹ NaCl). Evaluated parameters included plant height, fresh weight, leaf area, SPAD value, leaf relative water content (LRWC), electrolyte leakage, stomatal density, and ionic indicators (Na⁺, K⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio). Under salt stress, neither CA nor LJ significantly improved plant height or fresh weight in either cultivar. However, CA treatment in DKC6050 significantly enhanced leaf area, SPAD values, and LRWC, reflecting improved photosynthetic capacity and water retention. In P2088, LJ application led to increases in leaf area, stomatal density and SPAD values, reduced electrolyte leakage and Na⁺ accumulation, and improved the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, indicating better ionic regulation. Overall, the results demonstrated that the effectiveness of CA and LJ in alleviating salt stress was genotype-dependent. DKC6050 showed greater improvements in water status and chlorophyll stability, while P2088 exhibited more robust responses in maintaining membrane integrity and ionic balance. These findings highlighted the significance of genotype-specific approaches when using organic acid-based treatments for managing salinity stress in maize.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Project Number

FYL-2024-3105

Thanks

This study was conducted within the scope of Tuğba Sarıca’s Master’s Thesis and was financially supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Eskişehir Osmangazi University (Project No: FYL-2024-3105).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Field Crops and Pasture Production (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tuğba Sarıca
0009-0003-5126-5201
Türkiye

Süleyman Avcı ^*
0000-0002-4653-5567
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

January 21, 2026

Publication Date

January 21, 2026

Submission Date

May 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1695598

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA59MS28CR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sarıca, T., & Avcı, S. (2026). Mitigating Salt Stress in Maize Seedlings: Comparative Effects of Lemon Juice and Citric Acid Application. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım Ve Doğa Dergisi, 29(2), 396-407. https://doi.org/10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.1695598