S-Methylmethionine-Salicylate Pretreatment Reduces Low Temperature Stress in Maize

Abstract

Low temperature is one of the major environmental stressors affecting cultivated plants, damaging metabolic processes and cell structures. Due to its tropical origin maize (Zea mays L.) is particularly sensitive to chilling stress. The present study aimed to ascertain whether the amino acid derivative S-methylmethionine-salicylate (MMS) is effective in reducing cold stress injury in maize. In order to obtain more detailed information on the effect of MMS, changes were examined at the physiological, gene expression and metabolic levels. MMS pretreatment helped to preserve the photosynthetic activity, enhanced the expression of certain genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway and was measured higher anthocyanin content in the stalk. The results show that MMS pretreatment could reduce the damage caused by low temperature in maize.