Investigating nitrous oxide as a scientific approach to polyploidy induction and vegetative growth enhancement in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
摘要
Plant breeders use polyploidy as a crop enhancement tool to obtain the required character, as various economically important plants are diploids. Polyploids are the best choice against climate change due to their unique characteristics, e.g., ecological, biochemical, physiological, and morphological. Flow cytometry analysis testified the diploid level in the control treatment while N2O treatments (5 and 6 MPA) resulted in tetraploids. The maximum number of leaves (23), leaf length (10.6 cm), width (10 cm), chlorophyll content (65 µmol m−2), and plant height (69 cm) were observed in 6 MPA N2O pressure, followed by 5 MPA pressure, and the lowest of all in the control treatment. The guard cells of stomata in diploid leaves were noted to be smaller, with a greater number compared to tetraploid leaves, which have larger stomata size with less density. While 6 MPA treated leaves for 24 h have a higher stomata size than 5 MPA applied leaves. Epidermal cells get wider in size, but the number of cells is reduced in tetraploid samples, while diploid (control) samples show denser and higher epidermal cells. Enhanced pollen viability and size were recorded in treated plants rather than in diploid (control). Pearson’s correlation results exhibited strong negative and positive correlations between all the variables. N2O treatment with the 6 MPA pressure-treated samples gave good results, but the pressure was beyond its threshold, leading to the death of seedlings after 14 days of survival. Therefore, 5 MPA applied pressure could be recommended for better results.