Bioscience Evidence 2026, Vol.16, No.1, 1-11 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 6 Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated (PHP) plants showed improved yield parameters across all salinity levels. At 250 mM NaCl, PHP maintained grain numbers at 88.12 per plant, a slight but notable improvement over without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (WHP). Ear number and weight were also less reduced in Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated (PHP) plants, particularly at moderate salinities (50~150 mM), suggesting hydrogen peroxide supported reproductive development by reducing oxidative damage and improving nutrient mobilization. However, at higher salinities, the mitigation was partial, indicating limits to H2O2 protective capacity under severe stress. Table 4 Yield parameters of Zeamays under salinity treatments with and without Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) application Parameters With and withoutHP Salinity treatment (mM NaCl) 0 50 100 150 200 250 Number of ears WHP 2.38±0.18a 2.38±0.18a 2.13±0.23a 1.50±0.19b 1.38±0.18b 1.38±0.18a PHP 2.50±0.18a 2.38±0.18a 2.37±0.18a 2.12±0.13a 1.50±0.18ab 1.50±0.18ab Ear length (cm) WHP 19.63±1.01a 18.21±0.65a 14.75±0.80b 13.62±0.42b 13.25±0.59b 12.12±0.30b PHP 17.87±0.52a 17.37±0.46a 15.62±0.18a 16.00±0.33a 12.25±0.36ab 11.00±0.27ab Ear diameter (cm) WHP 13.50±0.13a 14.23±0.08a 14.61±0.22a 13.02±0.60a 12.15±0.94a 14.08±0.19a PHP 29.43±15.36a 13.02±0.24b 11.86±0.87b 13.21±0.59b 12.61±0.47b 11.98±0.97b Ear fresh weight (g) WHP 307.62±159.77a 93.57±2.30b 85.62±0.65c 75.73±0.76b 72.41±1.41b 73.41±1.29b PHP 146.57±1.12a 120.91±1.59b 119.75±11.22b 108.08±1.36c 93.58±0.78c 94.58±0.84c Ear dry weight (g) WHP 106.91±1.53a 86.83±0.79b 75.17±0.83b 69.61±1.39b 65.88±1.41b 43.60±0.27c PHP 107.56±0.39a 82.96±0.32b 81.68±0.39b 68.12±0.33bc 70.01±0.30bc 50.05±1.67c Number of grains WHP 226.25±13.13a 217.38±2.71a 212.13±1.42a 175.50±0.82ab 146.00±11.72ab 84.50±3.85b PHP 262.75±13.23a 217.62±12.11ab 169.87±14.84b 177.75±17.14b 111.37±1.50bc 88.12±5.05c Grain fresh weight (g) WHP 139.41±1.04a 124.63±0.86a 133.10±1.83a 91.76±0.40ab 92.67±5.56ab 75.65±0.87ab PHP 139.73±0.75a 134.12±0.63a 133.70±1.15a 130.07±0.31a 92.11±2.15b 85.57±2.24b Grain dry weight (g) WHP 55.78±0.68a 52.87±0.52a 54.26±0.75a 54.01±1.28a 49.36±0.27a 38.89±5.30ab PHP 55.60±0.50a 53.71±0.23a 52.83±0.39a 53.58±0.44a 54.90±0.24a 51.83±0.32a 1000 grain weight (g) WHP 30.88±0.64a 25.25±1.03ab 20.13±0.48ab 22.13±0.52ab 22.75±1.16ab 23.88±1.62ab PHP 31.25±0.70a 27.25±1.58ab 23.63±1.45ab 21.12±1.30ab 20.50±0.85ab 18.25±1.15c Note: Values are mean ± standard error of 8 replicates (Tukey HSD test at p≤0.05). Mean with the same alphabet(s) along the row are not significantly different from each other. PHP: plus hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); WHP: without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). 3.5 Nutritional and proximate composition Table 5 shows that salinity stress without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (WHP) led to significant reductions in grain proximate components. Protein content decreased from 15.14% in the control to 13.44% at 250 mM NaCl, fat from 1.88% to 1.74%, and crude fiber from 3.40% to 2.74%. Concurrently, moisture and ash contents increased, likely due to disrupted metabolic processes and ion accumulation. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated (PHP) plants maintained higher proximate values under salinity stress. At 250 mM NaCl, protein was sustained at 14.31%, fat at 2.41%, and crude fiber at 2.80%, closer to control levels. This indicates hydrogen peroxide helped stabilize metabolic pathways, reducing the impact of salinity on nutrient synthesis and storage. 3.6 Grain nutritional composition Salinity without hydrogen peroxide plants increased Na+ and Cl- accumulation in grains while reducing key nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, reflecting ion imbalances and impaired nutrient uptake. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated (PHP) mitigated these effects, with lower Na+ and Cl- accumulation and better retention of essential nutrients as shown in (Table 5) (e.g., higher potassium levels at all salinities). This suggests hydrogen peroxide improved ion homeostasis, likely through enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity. 3.7 Leaf total chlorophyll content Table 6 shows that the chlorophyll content declined significantly under salinity stress without hydrogen peroxide, with the lowest levels at 250 mM NaCl due to pigment degradation and chloroplast damage. Hydrogen peroxide
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