Cytokinin and gibberellic acid-mediated waterlogging tolerance of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

BACKGROUND: Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is one of the most important pulse crops, well-known for its protein-rich seeds. Growth and productivity are severely undermined by waterlogging. METHODS: In this study, we aim to evaluate how two promising phytohormones, namely cytokinin (CK) and gibberellic acid (GA(3)), can improve waterlogging tolerance in mungbean by investigating key morphological, physiological, biochemical, and yield-related attributes. RESULTS: Our results showed that foliar application of CK and GA(3) under 5-day of waterlogged conditions improved mungbean growth and biomass, which was associated with increased levels of photosynthetic rate and pigments. Waterlogged-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the consequently elevated levels of malondialdehyde were considerably reduced by CK and GA(3) treatments. Mungbean plants sprayed with either CK or GA(3) suffered less oxidative stress due to the enhancement of total phenolics and flavonoids levels. Improvement in the contents of proline and total soluble sugars indicated a better osmotic adjustment following CK and GA(3) treatments in waterlogged‐exposed plants. Most fundamentally, CK or GA(3)-sprayed waterlogged-stressed mungbean plants demonstrated better performance in the aforementioned parameters after the 15-day recovery period as compared to water-sprayed waterlogged-exposed plants. Our results also revealed that CK and GA(3) treatments increased yield-associated features in the waterlogged-stressed plant. Here, both phytohormones are efficient in improving mungbean resistance to waterlogging. However, CK was found to be more effective. Overall, our findings suggested that CK or GA(3) could be used for managing waterlogging-induced damage to mungbean and perhaps in other cash crops.