University of Tehran perss Journal of Crops Improvement 2008-8337 17 1 2015 04 21 Effect of glycine betaine on chilling tolerance of cucumber seedlings Effect of glycine betaine on chilling tolerance of cucumber seedlings 53 67 54788 10.22059/jci.2015.54788 FA Forough Saydpour . M.Sc. Student, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam Mohammad Sayyari Assistance Professor, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan 0000-0001-5007-4655 Fardin Ghanbari . M.Sc. Student, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam Journal Article 2013 03 27 Glycine betaine (GB) is one of the osmotic plant-protecting members that accumulate in response to abiotic stresses. An experiment was, therefore, conducted to test whether GB application at various concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 30 mM) through seed soaking or foliar spray methods would protect cucumber seedlings, subjected to chilling stress. At two true leave stages, after GB treatment, the seedlings were exposed to chilling six h/day at 3°C for 6 days. Results showed that GB pre-treatment improved growth parameters of seedlings subjected to chilling stress and provided significant protection against chilling stress compared to non-GB-treated seedlings. GB prevented chilling injuries with increasing chlorophyll, proline content and antioxidant activities and decreasing electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content. The highest cold tolerance was obtained with 20 and 30 mM GB application and seed soaking method provided better protection compared to foliar spray method.   Glycine betaine (GB) is one of the osmotic plant-protecting members that accumulate in response to abiotic stresses. An experiment was, therefore, conducted to test whether GB application at various concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 30 mM) through seed soaking or foliar spray methods would protect cucumber seedlings, subjected to chilling stress. At two true leave stages, after GB treatment, the seedlings were exposed to chilling six h/day at 3°C for 6 days. Results showed that GB pre-treatment improved growth parameters of seedlings subjected to chilling stress and provided significant protection against chilling stress compared to non-GB-treated seedlings. GB prevented chilling injuries with increasing chlorophyll, proline content and antioxidant activities and decreasing electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content. The highest cold tolerance was obtained with 20 and 30 mM GB application and seed soaking method provided better protection compared to foliar spray method.   https://jci.ut.ac.ir/article_54788_acb750a8d55ac0f804fca52bf05c1ddb.pdf