Abstract

Wheat refers to a critical grain crop in China, and ensuring the stable, high quality, high yielding production of wheat is of significance to China’s food security. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), i.e., amino-oligosaccharide, is a bio-pesticide readily absorbed by crop plants, capable of improving nutrient absorption and reproductive growth. This study aimed to determine the effects of COS on promoting wheat growth and its effect on the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as common antioxidant enzymes frequently related to plant tolerance. As indicated from the results, COS treatment (50–800 μg/mL) led to the significant (P < 0.05) increase in the height, root length, fresh and dry weight of all the tested wheat cultivars (Bainong 4199, Zhengyu 11 and Bainong 207). Moreover, the physiological analysis indicated that the activity of four antioxidant enzymes, i.e., catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in leaves, achieved the similar improvements, and MDA accumulation was reduced significantly (P < 0.05). The above results confirmed that COS can significantly promote the growth of wheat, and under the condition of increased antioxidant enzyme activity, it can reduce lipid peroxidation and may also improve stress resistance. Thus, using COS in commercial wheat production may be noticeably conducive to sustaining future wheat yields and food security in China.