The role of calcium in drought stress response induced through antioxidant activity in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22302/iribb.jur.mp.v89i1.425

Authors

  • Endah NURWAHYUNI Batang-Research and Assessment Installation for Agricultural Technology (Batang-RAIAT) – Central Java Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (CJ-AIAT) – Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD), Jl. Soekarno - Hatta KM.26 No.10, Bergas, Semarang 50552 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3117-8819
  • Eka Tarwaca Susila PUTRA Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, Jl. Flora, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281

Keywords:

enzymatic antioxidant
H₂O₂
MDA
SOD

Abstract

Oil palm productivity in Indonesia faces challenges related to drought that occur during the dry season. Calcium is an element that plays a role in determining the response of plant resistance to drought through biochemical activity. This study aims to determine the contribution of calcium in biochemical mechanisms involving various antioxidants. The treatment was arranged in factorial of 3 x 4 in a split-plot design. The first factor was calcium dosage, which consisted of 0 g (control/without calcium), 0.04 g, 0.08 g, and 0.12 g of calcium per plant. The second factor was the intensity of drought stress, referred as the Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water (FTSW) at 1 (control/field capacity), 0.35 (moderate drought), and 0.15 (severe drought) with a week duration of intensity. Calcium was applied in a ring placement on four-month-old seedlings planted in 40 x 40 cm polybags with alfisol soil planting medium and given drought treatment two months later for three weeks. The results showed that calcium could induce plant response to drought through the increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the decrease in hydrogen peroxide   (H₂O₂) concentration, and the decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. The study concluded that calcium is an essential element used to reduce the effects of drought on oil palm seedlings through the change of biochemical activities regulated by enzymatic antioxidants.

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Submitted

22-03-2021

Accepted

30-04-2021

Published

28-05-2021

How to Cite

NURWAHYUNI, E., & PUTRA, E. T. S. (2021). The role of calcium in drought stress response induced through antioxidant activity in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings. Menara Perkebunan, 89(1). https://doi.org/10.22302/iribb.jur.mp.v89i1.425

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