Effects of foliar spraying of IAA on Pb enrichment during interplanting of Arabis alpina L.var.parviflora Franch and Zea mays L.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)on the physiological and biochemical responses and enrichment of lead(Pb)during the intercropping of Arabis alpina L.var.parviflora Franch and maize(Zea mays L.).To this end,we examined the effects of foliar spraying of different concentrations of IAA(0,25,50,and 100 mg·L-1)on plant biomass,antioxidant enzyme activities,photosynthetic properties,and lead enrichment characteristics of the intercrops.Results showed that under the intercropping regime,treatment with 25 mg·L-1 IAA increased the biomass of the underground parts of Arabis alpina by 80.1%compared with that under the single crop regime,increased the activities of SOD,POD and CAT of Arabis alpina by 42.1%,20.3%and 21.8%respectively,and reduced the MDA content by 25.8%.Under the intercropping regime,the activities of SOD,POD and CAT of leaves of maize increased by 40.1%,44.4%and 50.0%and the MDA content decreased by 10.9%compared with those under single cropping.With an increase in IAA concentration,the net photosynthetic rate,stomatal conductivity,intercellular CO2 levels,and chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,and carotenoid contents of Arabis alpina and maize increased first and then decreased;these parameters peaked at 25 mg·L-1 and 50 mg·L-1 concentrations and decreased at 100 mg·L-1.With an increase in IAA concentration,the enrichment coefficients of intercropping Arabis alpina and maize increased first and then decreased,and the transportation coefficients of intercropping maize increased.Collectively,the 25 mg·L-1 and 50 mg·L-1 IAA treatment can be used to increase the enrichment of lead in intercropping Arabis alpina by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity of Arabis alpina and maize and enhancing photosynthesis to increase the tolerance of maize.