Impacts of Ellagic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide on Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Physiological Attributes Under Saline Stress: A Seed Priming Approach

Abstract

Soil salinity severely impacts seed germination, growth and overall crop productivity worldwide. Ellagic acid (EA) and hydrogen peroxide (HP, H₂O₂) play vital roles in plant stress responses, particularly in mitigating the negative effects of salinity. EA, a polyphenolic compound with strong antioxidant properties, helps enhance plant resilience by neutralising reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulating stress-related genes and restoring osmotic balance. HP, although often seen as a harmful ROS, acts as a signalling molecule at low concentrations, promoting stress tolerance by activating antioxidant defences, maintaining ion homeostasis and regulating stomatal function. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of EA and H₂O₂ on wheat (Triticum aestivum) under saline stress. Two cultivars, salt-tolerant Punjab-85 and salt-sensitive MH-97, were soaked in various concentrations of EA (0, 60 and 120 ppm) and H₂O₂ (0, 55 and 110 ppm) for 6 h. After planting in pots, a saline solution of 150 mM NaCl was applied 2 weeks post germination to induce salt stress. Results showed that H₂O₂ positively affected ash concentration in both cultivars, with lower (55 ppm) and higher (110 ppm) concentrations being most effective for the respective cultivars. The study also found that leaf area, ear length, ear weight, dry weight and productivity were correlated with total chlorophyll content, which was negatively associated with Chl-a, lipids, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺. Combined priming with EA and H₂O₂ had a stronger protective effect than individual treatments, helping alleviate salt stress and promote wheat growth.