Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Babak Andalibi ¹
• Mansour Faraji ²
• Mohsen Seilsepour ³
• Sajjad Nasiri ²

¹ Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan,

² Department of Production Engineering and Plant Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.

³ Agricultural Research and Training Center and Natural Resources of Tehran Province, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Drought stress is one of the most critical limiting factors affecting the overall growth and final yield of common bean. This study specifically aimed to evaluate the combined effects of seed priming and foliar application of ellagic acid on the yield, physiological performance, and biochemical characteristics of common bean under drought stress conditions.
Method: A detailed field experiment was conducted in May 2024 using a split-plot design based on randomized complete blocks with three replications at the Central Research Farm affiliated with the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Tehran Province, located in Varamin County. The main plots consisted of three irrigation levels (full irrigation equivalent to 100% of the crop water requirement, mild stress at 75%, and severe stress at 50%). The subplots included four treatments: control (no priming or foliar application), seed priming with 50 mg L⁻¹ ellagic acid, foliar spraying with 50 mg L⁻¹ ellagic acid, and a combination of seed priming and foliar application. 
Results: The results clearly showed that drought stress significantly reduced grain yield and biological yield of common bean. However, the application of ellagic acid, especially the combined treatment of seed priming and foliar spraying, effectively improved these traits. The highest grain yield (4198 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded under full irrigation with the combined treatment, whereas the lowest yield (2220 kg ha⁻¹) occurred under severe stress without ellagic acid application, representing a 47.1% decrease. Under mild stress, foliar application alone increased grain yield by 12.5%, and under severe stress, the combined treatment enhanced yield by 22%. Biological yield also increased in response to treatments, with the combined treatment increasing it by 10.5%, 9.5%, and 19.6% compared to the control under full irrigation, mild stress, and severe stress, respectively. Catalase enzyme activity and malondialdehyde content increased under stress condition; however, ellagic acid application, particularly the combined treatment, reduced these indices by 26.1% and 20.9%, respectively.
Conclusions: Overall, the results clearly demonstrated that drought stress has a significantly negative impact on the yield and physiological traits of pinto beans. However, the application of ellagic acid—especially in the combined priming and foliar spray treatment—was able to mitigate oxidative stress effects and maintain cellular stability as well as water balance, thereby leading to improved growth and yield under water deficit conditions. Based on these findings, the consistent use of ellagic acid is recommended as an effective management strategy to enhance drought tolerance and sustain productivity in arid and semi-arid regions.

Keywords

• Antioxidant Compounds
• Oxidative Stress
• Osmotic Adjustment
• Protein Crop