Responses of photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes, and related gene expression to nicosulfuron stress in sweet maize (Zea mays L.)

Weed control in maize (Zea mays L.) crops is usually undertaken using the postemergence herbicide nicosulfuron. The toxicity of nicosulfuron on maize, especially sweet maize, has been widely reported. In order to examine the effect of nicosulfuron on seedling photosynthetic characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence, reactive oxygen species production, antioxidant enzyme activities, and gene expressions on sweet maize, nicosulfuron-tolerant “HK310” and nicosulfuron-sensitive “HK320” were studied. All experiment samples were subjected to a water or 80 mg kg−1 of nicosulfuron treatment when sweet maize seedlings grow to the stage of four leaves. After treatment with nicosulfuron, results for HK301 were significantly higher than those for HK320 for net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence, and the electron transport rate. These results were contrary to nonphotochemical quenching and intercellular CO2 concentration. As exposure time increased, associated effects also increased. Both O2·− and H2O2 detoxification is modulated by antioxidant enzymes. Compared to HK301, SOD, POD, and CAT activities of HK320 were significantly reduced as exposure time increase. Compared to HK320, the gene expression for the majority of SOD genes, except for SOD2, increased due to inducement by nicosulfuron, and it significantly upregulated the gene expression of CAT in HK301. Results from this study indicate that plants can improve photosynthesis, scavenging capabilities of ROS, and protective mechanisms to alleviate phytotoxic effect of nicosulfuron. Future research is needed to further elucidate the important role antioxidant systems and gene regulation play in herbicide detoxification in sweet maize.