Maize Grain Extract Enriched with Polyamines Alleviates Drought Stress in Triticum aestivum through Up-Regulation of the Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle, Glyoxalase System, and Polyamine Gene Expression

Abstract

The potential protective role of priming wheat seeds with maize green extract (MGE) against the stress effects of drought was studied. Pretreatment using MGE, MGE enriched with polyamines (MGE_PA), and drought treatments (irrigation deficit of 30% (severe drought) or 60% (moderate drought) versus 90% relative water content of soil as a control) were applied in a factorial completely randomized design. Under moderate drought, pretreatment with MGE_PA outperformed MGE and control, while severely stressed plants died even with pretreatments. Both extracts enhanced normal plant growth and yield and mitigated the deleterious effect of moderately stressed plants. Application of both extracts markedly increased photosynthetic efficiency, membrane stability, relative water content, and accumulation of antioxidants, osmoprotectants, trans- and cis-zeatin, polyamines, and their gene expressions, while levels of superoxide (O₂^•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage were decreased. Enzymatic antioxidants and glyoxalase system activities were improved in moderately stressed plants and were further improved with pretreatment with both extracts, thus protecting plants from oxidative damage by up-regulation of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. Glycine betaine, soluble sugars, and proline levels were greatly increased in pretreated plants, thus maintaining membrane stability and photosynthetic efficiency. The interaction between drought and pretreatment using MGE_PA was significant in growing wheat plants in dry environments with 60% relative water content of soil.

1. Introduction

Drought, one of the major types of environmental abiotic stresses, restricts plant performance throughout its life cycle. It limits the productivity of agricultural crops, mostly in dry areas (e.g., semi-arid and arid regions), including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, thus causing an increasing problem over time due to the ongoing climate change. Deficit irrigation water (DIw) adversely affects plant growth, development, and production through decreasing water flux, closure of stomata, and reduced CO₂ fixation [1,2,3]. DIw strongly affects plant antioxidant system, metabolism, and physio-biochemistry [4,5,6,7,8]. It causes photooxidation damage to cell components by over-generating reactive species of oxygen (ROS), including radicals of O₂^•− and H₂O₂ and eventually photo-inhibition [9], which cause significant oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA, thus discouraging plant growth [10]. To mitigate the oxidative stress damage, complex ROS-scavenging antioxidant system (enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, etc.) and low-molecular mass compounds (GSH, AsA, carotenoids, phenols, etc.)) are developed/adopted in plants [11]. The enzymatic antioxidants can directly scavenge ROS or produce one or more of the non-enzymatic antioxidants. SOD is specifically implicated in converting O₂^•− to H₂O₂ in cell cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and peroxisomes. In addition, POD acts as a scavenger of H₂O₂ and CAT eliminates the H₂O₂ in mitochondria and micro-bodies [12], helping mitigate the adverse effects of oxidative stress.

The effective reduction of cell osmotic potential maintains plant cell metabolism and avoids dehydration damage induced by DIw stress via the accumulation of more levels of glycinebetaine, soluble sugars, and proline [13]. These osmotic compounds maintain an osmotic balance, efficacy, and normality of membrane functions, and protect macromolecules and plasma membranes, providing cellular resistance against DIw stress and dehydration [10,14,15].

In most cases, endogenous components of the developed/adopted antioxidant system in plants are not sufficient to defend against environmental stress. Consequently, plant extract and microbial bio-stimulants may be applied exogenously as an adjuvant to plants to increase their tolerance to stress. Plant extracts can induce plant resistance under various stresses, and microbial biostimulants can increase gene regulation in plants related to drought stress and can also produce biofilm, which helps plants survive under drought stress [16,17,18,19,20,21].

At present, extracts containing natural bio-stimulants obtained from maize grains have been applied for seed priming and have been reported to enhance plant performances under different stress conditions; salinity [22,23], nutrient deficiencies [24], cadmium [25], and salinity plus drought [26]. MGE is an important organic bio-stimulant for different stressed plants. It is rich in various phytohormones (e.g., cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins), antioxidants, and essential nutrients. It has been used to enhance plant morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and induce plant tolerance against stress damages [22,25]. To date, no work has been done using MGE enriched with antioxidants such as polyamines for wheat grown under DIw stress. Thus, this is the first report that used MGE to stimulate the growth of pretreated wheat plants under DIw stress due to its high content of antioxidants, plant hormones, vitamins, polyamines, and nutrients, making it an effective biological stimulant [22,24,25,26,27] (

Table 1. Antioxidant and hormone contents detected in maize grain extract (MGE).

Content	Unit	Value
Antioxidants:
Ascorbic acid (AsA)	(µmol g−1 FW)	4.26 ± 0.07
Glutathione (GSH)		1.85 ± 0.03
DPPH radical-scavenging activity	%	88.6 ± 1.6
Polyamines:
Putrescine (PUT)	(µmol g−1 FW)	0.5 ± 0.01
Spermidine (SPD)		0.6 ± 0.01
Spermine (SPM)		0.9 ± 0.02
Phytohormones:
Total cytokinins (CKs)	(μmol g−1 FW)	3.56 ± 0.06
Trans-Zeatin (t-Z)		1.55 ± 0.02
Cis-Zeatin (c-Z)		1.02 ± 0.01
Salicylic acid (SA)		2.29 ± 0.05

Values presented in the table are means (n = 3 for all measures) ± standard error.

). These reports stated that MGE confers seed and their emerged seedlings the ability to resist the unfavorable effects of stress through elevating wheat performance (growth and productivity), physio-biochemical parameters, and different antioxidants. Thus, MGE is an innovative means to provide seeds and developing seedlings that are resistant to damages caused by environmental stresses such as DIw.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and straw are major sources of nourishing the diets of humans and animals, respectively in urban and rural communities due to their high protein and calorie content (approximately 82–85%). However, environmental stresses severely affect wheat productivity; if the available soil water reaches 45–50% of field capacity in the root zone, the wheat plants must be watered [2,26]. The duration and severity of stress, growth physio-biochemical processes, and patterns of differential gene expression are some of the factors that can influence the wheat plant’s response to DIw stress [23,26,28,29].

Although MGE has been used in some investigations for some crop plants to boost their antioxidant defense system against the stress impacts of certain abiotic stresses [22,24,25,26,27], there is no information available on seed priming using MGE (as a bio-stimulant) to encourage plant growth and production by mitigating the damage caused by drought stress. However, by analyzing MGE, we found that it is rich in phytohormones, especially zeatins, but was poor in PAs (Table 1), so enriching this extract with PAs could increase its effectiveness. Therefore, this work is based on the hypothesis that seed soaking in MGE enriched in PAs will mitigate drought stress by enhancing the growth, yield, and physio-biochemical systems of wheat plants. Thus, in this study, the effect of wheat seed priming in MGE (without or with enrichment by PAs) on growth and yield, physio-biochemical characteristics, including the up-regulation of AsA–GSH cycle, glyoxalase system, and PAs gene expression of wheat plants was studied under DIw stress conditions.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Plant Material and Its Preparation for Sowing

The experiment was carried out using certified Triticum aestivum (L.) seeds (cv. Giza-168; winter wheat). Filtered calcium hypochlorite (1%, v/v) was used to sterilize the seed surface for 1 h. Then, the seeds were washed directly several times with sterile deionized water. The seeds were divided into three groups for different 6-h soaking treatments. The seeds of the first group were soaked in distilled water to serve as a control. The seeds of the second group were soaked in maize grain extract (MGE, 2%) not enriched with polyamines (PAs). The seeds of the third group were soaked in MGE enriched with PAs (MGE_PA, 2%). A weight of 500 g of seeds was soaked in 1 L of each soaking solution, and the soaked seeds were re-dried under the shade with forced air according to the procedure of Sundstrom et al. [30]. The concentration 2% was selected for both MGE and MGE_PA based on our initial study carried out with 1, 2, and 3% of each of the extracts. Both levels 2 and 3% conferred similar responses that were better than the response obtained from 1% in terms of wheat seedling growth (data not shown).

2.2. Growing Conditions, Treatments, and Experimental Layout

Black plastic pots (32 cm diameter and 30 cm depth) were used for this study. After sterilization, each pot was filled with 10 kg of pure sand, which was previously cleaned completely of ions with commercial acid and re-cleaned with distilled water. The sand was mixed with compost, vermicompost, and humic acid at a ratio of 90: 6.5: 3: 0.5 (w/w), respectively. Ten uniform and healthy seeds were sown in each pot. The pots were arranged in a greenhouse as follows: the average temperatures were 19 ± 3/10 ± 2 °C for day (13 h)/night (11 h), and the average humidity was 62.0–65.1%. The presence of sunlight inside the greenhouse remained homogeneous. Every three days, all pots were watered with full-strength nutritious solution (pH 5.9) [31], containing Ca(NO₃)₂×4 H₂O, KNO₃, KH₂PO₄, MgSO₄×7 H₂O, H₃BO₃, MnCl₂×4 H₂O, ZnSO₄×7 H₂O, CuSO₄×5 H₂O, Na₂MoO₄×2 H₂O, and Fe³⁺-EDTA⁺ at the concentrations of 1.25 mM, 1.25 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.50 mM, 11.6 μM, 2.4 μM, 0.24 μM, 0.08 μM, 0.13 μM, and 22.5 μM, respectively. Twenty days after sowing (DAS), water treatments were started with wheat seedlings of the three groups of soaking treatments. Each group of soaking treatments was assigned 45 pots and divided into three subgroups of 15 pots each. Each subgroup (e.g., control, MGE, and MGE_PA) was subjected to three irrigation regimes (e.g., 90, 60, or 30% of soil relative water content) to include 9 treatments until harvest. The nutrient solution was applied along with the irrigation treatments, taking into account the equal concentration of nutrients in all pots for all treatments. Based on each water regime, soil moisture level was controlled by weighing each pot and any water loss was supplemented daily. A factorial completely randomized design was the one used to arrange all experimental pots. For the entire duration of the experiment (140 days), all pots were rotated daily to avoid systematic error due to fluctuations in environmental conditions.

2.3. Calculation of Soil Relative Water Content (SRWC) and Preparation of Samples

For the calculation of SRWC, the weighing method was used for the three water treatments (control (90%), 60%, or 30% of SRWC). Daily, the amount of water transpired, and evaporated was compensated by the weight of the pots and watered to the corresponding target SRWC, which was expressed using the following equation:

SRWC = (W_soil − W_pot − DW_soil) / (W_FC − W_pot − DW_soil) × 100

where W_soil; current weight of soil, pot, and water, W_pot; empty pot weight, DW_soil; dry soil weight, and W_FC; soil weight (soil + pot + water) at field capacity. Samples (the upper fully-expanded leaves) were taken 70 DAS (at the end of the tillering; vegetative growth stage with the first node) to determine the parameters of physiology, biochemistry, and antioxidative defense system components. Five plants (replicates) were functioned for each determination. Grain yield was obtained at the end of experiments (140 DAS) from 100 plants.

2.4. Preparation of Maize Grain Extracts (MGE and MGE_PA)

The full method outlined in Alzahrani and Rady [25] and Alharby et al. [26] was used to obtain the extract from maize grains using local genotype of Egyptian maize. Wet cotton and clean cloth were used to cover and maintain the grains of maize until they were mushy. The mushy grains were transferred for milling using an appropriate amount of distilled water. Then, the mixture was filtered under vacuum. The filtrate was maintained in black bottles at 4 °C in a refrigerator. The remaining residue was transferred, quantitatively, for another extraction with methyl alcohol (70%) for 72 h, and the filtration process was repeated again. Using a rotary evaporator, the filtrate was completely evaporated to remove alcohol. The alcoholic extract was mixed well with the aqueous extract and, then, the mixture was concentrated to reach the target concentrations, which were used immediately. Otherwise, they were stored in a refrigerator at ‒20 °C until use.

Some major ingredients in MGE were detected. AsA and GSH contents were determined in MGE according to Kampfenkel and Van Montagu [32] and Griffth [33], respectively. Activity of antioxidants was assayed in MGE by using the DPPH-radical scavenging activity [34]. Fresh extract was used for endogenous levels of phytohormones (e.g., auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, including zeatin-type-cytokinins). The sample was frozen in liquid N for preparing to extract different phytohormones that were then analyzed using the GC/MS system according to Lavrich and Hays [35]. Polyamines (PAs) were extracted and determined as follows: Extraction of PAs was implemented at 4 °C by utilizing 500 mg of top fresh fully (third and fourth)-expanded leaves with 4 mL fresh 5% (v/v) HClO₄. The supernatant obtained after centrifugation (15,000× g, 30 min) was utilized to detect the free PAs (e.g., PUT, SPM, and SPD) using HPLC system [36,37,38]. Identification and quantification of PAs were conducted by comparing the retention times with peaks areas using the standards of PAs (observed on 254 nm using a 2487 dual UV-detector; Waters, Milford, MA, USA). Results of all assessments are shown in Table 1. As shown, the contents of PAs detected in MGE were very low (0.5, 0.6, and 0.9 µmol g⁻¹ FW for PUT, SPD, and SPM, respectively), and thus, MGE at 2% level was enriched with PUT, SPD, and SPM by adding them at rates of 0.5, 0.6, and 0.9 mM, respectively. These added concentrations of different PAs tested were based on their contents in MGE.

2.5. Components of Growth and Yield

Seventy DAS (tillering stage), five plants were selected and gently extracted from five randomly selected pots. The plants were gently cleaned from the sand particles by using tap water. After determining the FW of shoots, they were dried at 70 °C up to obtaining a constant DW. The grain yield components [Grain yield (g pot⁻¹) and 1000-grain weight (g)] were assessed 140 DAS (harvest stage) by using 100 plants from each treatment.

2.6. Leaf Pigments, Photosynthetic Efficiency, and Gas Exchange Parameters

A weight of 0.2 g of fresh tissue of leaf was extracted using 80% (v/v) acetone with a clean mortar and pestle to determine chlorophylls and carotenoids [39]. Optical densities of supernatants were measured using spectrophotometer apparatus at wavelengths of 663, 645, and 480 nm. Using top fresh leaves, the fluorometer apparatus (Hansatech Instr. Ltd., Kings Lynn, UK) was utilized to evaluate photosynthetic efficiency components; maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm; [40]), photosynthetic performance index of PSII (PI_ABS) was calculated [41], and hill reaction activity was measured [42]. Using the third upper leaf on five random plants, the infrared gas analyzer apparatus (LCA-4 model, England) was utilized to evaluate each net photosynthesis rate; Pn, CO₂ assimilation rate; A, conductance of leafy stomata; gs, and transpiration rate; E. Measurements were assessed 4 times (2 h time interval from 7:00 to 17:00); 40, 50, 60, and 70 DAS.

2.7. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers (Hydrogen Peroxide and Superoxide), and Peroxidation of Lipids

Using the fresh upper leaves free of midribs from 5 randomly selected plants, the methods described in Velikova et al. [43], Kubis [44], and Madhava Rao and Sresty [45] were utilized to determine H₂O₂, O₂^•−, and lipid peroxidation (evaluated as malondialdehyde; MDA) contents.

For H₂O₂, the content (µmol g⁻¹ FW) was evaluated colorimetrically by recording the absorbance readings of samples at 390 nm and the calculations were performed based on a suitable standard curve. For O₂^•−, the content (µmol g⁻¹ FW) was evaluated using sample fragments (1 × 1 mm, 0.1 g) that flooded using a 10 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), which was mixed with each of NBT (0.05%) and NaN₃ (10 mM) for 1 h at room temperature. The mixture was heated for 0.25 h on 85 °C. Then, the mixture was cooled rapidly. The absorbance readings were taken at 580 nm. For MDA, the content was evaluated using the extinction coefficient 155 mM⁻¹ cm⁻¹.

2.8. Ion Leakage, Relative Water Content, and Membrane Stability Index

Using fresh top leaves free of midribs from 5 randomly selected plants, the leaf ionic (electrolyte) leakage [46], leaf relative content of water [47], and stability index of cell membranes [46] were estimated.

2.9. Assaying Enzymatic Activities and Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle Activity

Fresh top leaves free of midribs (0.5 g) from five plants were used to extract antioxidant enzymes for assaying the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT). The methods of Dhindsa and Matowe [48], Aebi [49], Hasanuzzaman and Fujita [50], Nakano and Asada [51], Foster and Hess [52], Nakano and Asada [51], and Miyake and Asada [53] were employed to assay the activities of SOD (EC: 1.15.1.1), CAT (EC: 1.11.1.6), glutathione S-transferase (GST; EC: 2.5.1.18), APX (EC: 1.11.1.1), GR (EC: 1.6.4.2), DHAR (EC: 1.8.5.1), and MDHAR (EC: 1.6.5.4) in Unit mg⁻¹ protein. Ascorbate (AsA) was determined in the tissue of upper fully expanded fresh leaves according to Huang et al. [54]. Determination of GSH pool was performed by applying the Yu et al. [55] method with a minor modification [56] with using a known concentration of both GSH and GSSG as standard curves.

2.10. Glyoxalase System

To determine the glyoxalase I (Gly I; EC: 4.4.1.5) and glyoxylase II (Gly II; EC: 3.1.2.6), the Hasanuzzaman and Fujita [50] method was applied using fresh top leaves free of midribs from five plants selected randomly. For Gly I, the mixture of assaying consisted of a buffer, pH 7.0 (100 mM K-phosphate), MgSO₄ (15 mM), GSH (1.7 mM), and methylglyoxal (3.5 mM) in 900 μL as a final volume. After addition of methylglyoxal, the changes occurred in the absorbance were observed at 240 nm. For Gly II, a reaction mixture (1.5 mL) consisted of a buffer, pH 7.2 (100 mM Tris‒HCl), 200 µM of DTNB, and 1 mM of S-D-lactoylglutathione was applied, and the extinction coefficients 3.37 mM⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 13.6 mM⁻¹ cm⁻¹ were used to calculate the Gly I and Gly II, respectively.

2.11. Proline, Glycinebetaine (GB), and Soluble Sugars (S. Sugars)

Using fresh top leaves free of midribs from five plants selected randomly and toluene, the extraction of proline was practiced. At 520 nm, the absorbance was recorded [57]. Leaf content (μg proline g⁻¹ FW) of proline was calculated using a suitable standard curve. The Grieve and Grattan [58] method was applied to estimate GB. The formed periodide crystals were monitored colorimetrically at 365 nm after reacting the mixture with cold KI‒I₂ (a reagent) under acidic condition. The method of Irigoyen et al. [59] was utilized for extracting (using ethanol, 96%) and determining the content of soluble sugars (S. sugars) in mg g⁻¹ dry leafy mass (DW). The ethanolic extract (100 µL) was reacted with 150 mg of anthrone reagent (freshly prepared in 100 mL H₂SO₄, 72%), and the mixture was then boiled for 10 min in a water bath. Colorimetrically, the absorbance readings were recorded at 625 nm after cooling.

2.12. Polyamines (PAs) Content Determinations and Relative Expression of Biosynthetic Genes of PAs Relative Expression (Using qRT-PCR)

Chen et al. [36], Guo et al. [37], and Flores and Galston [38] procedures were used with the HPLC system and 0.5 g fresh leaves for extraction of PAs at 4 °C. After a centrifugation process (15,000× g, 30 min), the supernatant was subjected to detect PuT, SpM, and SpD. Retention times were compared with the peak areas (noticed on 254 nm using a 2487 dual UV-detector; Waters, Milford, MA, USA) obtained to identify and quantify the three PAs.

According to the manufacturer’s protocol, RNA isolation (using TRIsure; Bioline, London, UK), cDNA synthesis, and quantitative real-time analysis (qRT-PCR) were implemented with 0.1 g of fresh leaves. DNase I (Thermo Scientific, London, UK) was utilized to digest RNA samples, and then RNA was spectrophotometerically quantified. Using Agarose gel electrophoresis, the determination of overall purity and integrity of RNA was conducted. For the reverse-transcription of RNA to cDNA, 1 µg of total RNA was used with a kit of Sensifast first cDNA synthesis (Bioline, London, UK). Based on the NCBI, the designation of primers and the Genome Database of wheat were as follows: ADC (F: 5′-CAACGACTTTGTTAGCTTTGG-3′, R: 5′-CAGGCTTGGCTTTGGTAA-3′), ODC (F: 5′-GGCCACTTCTTCTAGGTTCA-3′, R: 5′-ACTCGGCGTCTTATATAGCG-3′), SAMDC (F: 5′-CGAGCTTGTGTTGCGTCAG-3′, R: 5′-ATACATTCGCTCACACTGGCA-3′), SPDS (F: 5′-CTGAGAGTATGTGGTTGCAT-3′, R: 5′-CATAGTGGACAGAACCCTTG-3′), SPMS (F: 5′-AGTAGAGAAGATTTTGTACCAGG-3′, R: 5′-GGACATTCCCATAGGTTGAAG-3′), DHS (F: 5′-TCACTCGGAGACATGCTGTT-3′, R: 5′-CAGCCTTATATCTTGTACAATGTCG-3′), and GAPDH (F: 5′-TTGCTCTGAACGACCATTTC-3′, R: 5′-GACACCATCCACATTTATTCTTC-3′).

Using diluted cDNA samples, the qPCR was implemented in a 20 mL reaction mixture (10 mL of SensiFast SYBR Lo-Rox 2X mix (Bioline, London, UK) with 1.2 mL (300 nM) of each primer). The PCR was implemented by using a STRATAGENE MxPro-3000P (Agilent Technologies). Calculation of relative expression was done by using the method of 2-DDCt, where the level of mRNA relative expression was normalized versus the internal standard gene (GAPDH) and was then compared with control.

2.13. Zeatin-Type Cytokinin

Fresh leaf blade was frozen in liquid N, grounded, and extracted for trans-zeatin-type cytokinin; t-Z and cis-zeatin-type cytokinin; c-Z. The analysis was performed according to the Novák et al. [60] and Forcat et al. [61] procedures.

2.14. Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis

The experiment was repeated three times and carried out as a factorial completely randomized design with three soaking treatments (distilled water, 2% MGE, or 2% MGE_PA) and three irrigation levels (90% as a control, 60%, or 30% of SRWC) in 15 replications (pots). Data are means (± standard error; SE). Testing for homogeneity of error variances was conducted according to the procedure outlined by Gomez and Gomez [62]. Combined analysis of data of the three experiments was conducted, and statistical analysis of all data was performed by using Statistica (version 9, Tulsa, OK, USA), subjected to two-way ANOVA, and differences among treatment means were affirmed statistically by using the Fisher LSD test at p ≤ 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Growth, Yield, Leaf Photosynthetic Pigments, and Photosynthetic Efficiency

The treatment Ir60% (moderate drought) or Ir30% (severe drought) markedly decreased wheat plant growth (shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight), yield (grain yield and 1000-grain weight), leaf pigments (total chlorophylls and total carotenoids), and photosynthetic efficiency (PSII efficiency; Fv/Fm, PSII performance index, and hill reaction activity; HRA) compared to Ir90% (optimal irrigation) (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Severe effect was obtained with Ir30%, which did not give yield because the plants did not survive. However, under Ir90% or Ir60%, seed soaking in 2% MGE or MGE_PA significantly increased plant growth, yield, leaf pigments, and photosynthetic efficiency compared to the corresponding controls. MGE_PA was more efficient than MGE, and the tested parameters responded better to MGE or MGE_PA under Ir60% than Ir90%. On the other hand, under Ir30%, either MGE or MGE_PA failed to increase the parameters mentioned above compared to the corresponding control. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested attributes (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

3.2. Gas Exchange Parameters and Plant Leaf Tissue Health

Application of moderate or severe drought noticeably decreased gas exchange parameters (Pn, A, gs, and E), MSI, and RWC of wheat plants compared to optimal irrigation (

Table 2. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on gas exchange parameters of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	Pn (µmol m−1 S−1)	A (mmol CO2 m−1 S−1)	gs (mmol CO2 m−1 S−1)	E (mmol H2O m−1 S−1)
Ir90%	0	11.6 ± 0.3 c	14.5 ± 0.4 b	327 ± 14 c	1.8 ± 0.08 c
	MGE	12.1 ± 0.3 b	15.5 ± 0.4 a	352 ± 15 b	2.0 ± 0.09 b
	MGEPA	12.8 ± 0.4 a	15.6 ± 0.5 a	390 ± 17 a	2.3 ± 0.11 a
Ir60%	0	9.5 ± 0.2 e	11.2 ± 0.3 d	208 ± 10 e	1.1 ± 0.05 e
	MGE	10.4 ± 0.2 d	12.6 ± 0.4 c	261 ± 12 d	1.4 ± 0.07 d
	MGEPA	11.6 ± 0.3 c	14.4 ± 0.5 b	328 ± 14 c	1.8 ± 0.09 c
Ir30%	0	4.8 ± 0.1 f	6.7 ± 0.2 e	112 ± 6 f	0.5 ± 0.02 f
	MGE	4.8 ± 0.1 f	6.8 ± 0.2 e	114 ± 6 f	0.5 ± 0.02 f
	MGEPA	4.9 ± 0.1 f	6.8 ± 0.2 e	116 ± 6 f	0.5 ± 0.02 f
Two way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(**)	(*)	(**)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± standard error. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (**) or (*) significant at 1 or 5% probability levels, respectively. Pn means net photosynthesis rate, A means CO₂ assimilation rate, gs means stomatal conductance, and E means transpiration rate.

). Ir30% treatment caused higher reductions than Ir60%. However, under Ir90% or Ir60%, seed soaking with MGE or MGE_PA significantly increased gas exchange parameters, while MSI and RWC were only increased under Ir60% compared to the corresponding control. MGE_PA was more efficient than MGE, and the tested parameters responded better to MGE or MGE_PA under Ir60% than Ir90%. In contrast, either MGE or MGE_PA failed to increase the tested parameters under Ir30% compared to the corresponding control. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested attributes (Table 2).

3.3. Oxidative Stress Levels, Lipid Peroxidation, and Electrolyte Leakage (EL)

Compared to Ir90%, Ir30% treatment noticeably exceeded Ir60% in increasing oxidative stress biomarkers (O₂^•− and H₂O₂), lipid peroxidation (assessed as malondialdehyde; MDA accumulation), and EL of wheat plants (

Table 3. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on oxidative stress levels (superoxide; O₂^•− and hydrogen peroxide; H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, electrolyte leakage (EL), membrane stability index (MSI), and relative water content (RWC) of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	H2O2 (µmol g−1 FW)	O2•− (µmol g−1 FW)	MDA (µmol g−1 FW)	EL (%)	MSI (%)	RWC (%)
Ir90%	0	3.52 ± 0.05 d	1.21 ± 0.01 d	10.24 ± 0.11 d	6.12 ± 0.25 d	64.4 ± 1.4 a	73.6 ± 1.9 a
	MGE	3.50 ± 0.05 d	1.20 ± 0.01 d	10.20 ± 0.11 d	6.11 ± 0.24 d	64.9 ± 1.4 a	74.1 ± 2.0 a
	MGEPA	3.50 ± 0.05 d	1.20 ± 0.01 d	10.18 ± 0.10 d	6.10 ± 0.24 d	65.4 ± 1.5 a	75.0 ± 1.9 a
Ir60%	0	5.43 ± 0.08 b	2.54 ± 0.03 b	18.14 ± 0.21 b	14.52 ± 0.51 b	46.5 ± 1.3 c	52.4 ± 1.4 c
	MGE	4.66 ± 0.07 c	1.79 ± 0.02 c	15.05 ± 0.16 c	11.02 ± 0.42 c	58.8 ± 1.4 b	64.0 ± 1.6 b
	MGEPA	3.48 ± 0.05 d	1.20 ± 0.01 d	10.19 ± 0.10 d	6.14 ± 0.26 d	64.2 ± 1.4 a	73.5 ± 1.9 a
Ir30%	0	9.54 ± 0.14 a	4.22 ± 0.05 a	32.41 ± 0.35 a	36.26 ± 1.24 a	30.1 ± 0.9 d	34.2 ± 1.2 d
	MGE	9.51 ± 0.16 a	4.20 ± 0.05 a	32.36 ± 0.35 a	36.21 ± 1.22 a	30.4 ± 0.8 d	34.5 ± 1.4 d
	MGEPA	9.49 ± 0.13 a	4.20 ± 0.05 a	32.34 ± 0.35 a	36.20 ± 1.18 a	31.3 ± 0.9 d	35.1 ± 1.2 d
Two way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(**)	(*)	(**)	(*)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(*)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± standard error. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (**) or (*) significant at 1 or 5% probability levels, respectively.

). The tested parameters did not respond to seed soaking in MGE or MGE_PA under Ir90% or Ir30% treatment. However, under Ir60%, MGE_PA significantly exceeded MGE in reducing O₂^•−, H₂O₂, MDA, and EL levels compared to the corresponding control. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested parameters (Table 3).

3.4. Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes and Ascorbate–Glutathione (AsA–GSH) Cycle

Ir30% treatment markedly decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes and AsA–GSH cycle (SOD, CAT, GST, AsA, APX, GR, MDHAR, DHAR, GSH, and GSSG), while Ir60% treatment considerably increased the activities of these antioxidant enzymes and AsA–GSH cycle, except for the activities of AsA, MDHAR, and DHAR activities, which were further decreased in wheat plants compared to Ir90% (

Table 4. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on the activities of antioxidant enzymes of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	SOD (EU mg−1 Protein)	CAT (EU mg−1 Protein)	GST (EU mg−1 Protein)
Ir90%	0	45.4 ± 0.5 d	30.6 ± 0.4 d	17.8 ± 0.2 d
	MGE	45.4 ± 0.5 d	30.6 ± 0.4 d	17.8 ± 0.2 d
	MGEPA	45.5 ± 0.5 d	30.6 ± 0.4 d	17.9 ± 0.2 d
Ir60%	0	62.4 ± 0.7 c	41.2 ± 0.4 c	20.8 ± 0.2 c
	MGE	67.2 ± 0.7 b	47.9 ± 0.5 b	25.2 ± 0.3 b
	MGEPA	75.8 ± 0.8 a	54.9 ± 0.6 a	29.2 ± 0.3 a
Ir30%	0	29.4 ± 0.3 e	18.7 ± 0.2 e	11.8 ± 0.1 e
	MGE	29.5 ± 0.3 e	18.7 ± 0.2 e	11.8 ± 0.1 e
	MGEPA	29.4 ± 0.3 e	18.8 ± 0.2 e	11.9 ± 0.2 e
Two way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(*)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± SE. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (*) significant at 5% probability levels, respectively. SOD means superoxide dismutase, CAT means catalase, and GST means glutathione-S-transferase.

and

Table 5. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on the activity of ascorbate–glutathione cycle of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	AsA (µmol g−1 FW)	APX (EU mg−1 Protein)	GR (EU mg−1 Protein)	MDHAR (EU mg−1 Protein)	DHAR (EU mg−1 Protein)	GSH (µmol g−1 FW)	GSSG (µmol g−1 FW)
Ir90%	0	4.3 ± 0.06 b	9.2 ± 0.11 d	6.7 ± 0.10 d	59.4 ± 0.8 a	132 ± 2 a	89 ± 2 d	22.2 ± 0.4 d
	MGE	4.3 ± 0.06 b	9.2 ± 0.11 d	6.7 ± 0.10 d	59.6 ± 0.8 a	132 ± 2 a	89 ± 2 d	22.2 ± 0.4 d
	MGEPA	4.4 ± 0.06 b	9.3 ± 0.12 d	6.8 ± 0.11 d	59.9 ± 0.9 a	133 ± 2 a	90 ± 2 d	22.4 ± 0.4 d
Ir60%	0	3.2 ± 0.04 c	15.4 ± 0.21 c	8.4 ± 0.14 c	31.4 ± 0.5 c	72 ± 1 c	106 ± 2 c	41.2 ± 0.7 c
	MGE	4.3 ± 0.05 b	17.2 ± 0.24 b	9.1 ± 0.16 b	42.7 ± 0.6 b	98 ± 2 b	124 ± 3 b	51.9 ± 0.9 b
	MGEPA	4.8 ± 0.07 a	19.7 ± 0.30 a	9.9 ± 0.18 a	58.9 ± 0.8 a	129 ± 2 a	149 ± 3 a	63.5 ± 1.1 a
Ir30%	0	2.4 ± 0.03 d	4.9 ± 0.07 e	3.5 ± 0.04 e	22.2 ± 0.3 d	50 ± 1 d	64 ± 1 e	14.3 ± 0.2 e
	MGE	2.4 ± 0.03 d	4.9 ± 0.07 e	3.6 ± 0.05 e	22.2 ± 0.3 d	51 ± 1 d	64 ± 1 e	14.4 ± 0.2 e
	MGEPA	2.5 ± 0.03 d	5.0 ± 0.08 e	3.6 ± 0.05 e	22.3 ± 0.3 d	52 ± 1 d	66 ± 1 e	14.6 ± 0.2 e
Two way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± SE. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (*) significant at 5% probability levels, respectively. AsA means ascorbate, APX means ascorbate peroxidase, GR means glutathione reductase, MDHAR means monodehydro-ascorbate reductase, DHAR means dehydro-ascorbate reductase, GSH means glutathione, and GSSG means oxidized glutathione.

). These tested activities of antioxidant enzymes and AsA–GSH cycle did not respond to seed soaking in MGE or MGE_PA under Ir90% or Ir30% treatment. However, under Ir60%, MGE_PA significantly exceeded MGE, both of which significantly elevated the activities of antioxidant enzymes and AsA–GSH cycle compared to the corresponding control. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (P ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested parameters (Table 4 and Table 5).

3.5. Glyoxalase System (Gly I and Gly II), Osmoprotectants, and Zeatins

Compared with Ir90%, Ir60% noticeably increased Gly I activity, and osmoprotectants (proline, GB, and S. sugars), t-Z and c-Z contents, except for Gly II activity, which was decreased, while Ir30% markedly decreased all parameters of wheat plants (

Table 6. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on glyoxalase system (Gly I and Gly II), osmoprotectants (e.g., proline, glycine betaine; GB, and soluble sugars; S. sugars), trans- and cis-zeatin accumulation in drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	Gly I (mmol min−1 mg−1 Protein)	GlyII (mmol min−1 mg−1 Protein)	Proline (µg g−1 FW)	GB (µg g−1 FW)	Soluble Sugars (mg g−1 FW)	Trans-Zeatin (ng g−1 DW)	Cis-Zeatin (ng g−1 DW)
Ir90%	0	0.39 ± 0.01 d	0.19 ± 0.01 a	18.4 ± 0.3 d	4.21 ± 0.08 d	6.89 ± 0.11 d	122 ± 3 e	41.3 ± 0.8 e
	MGE	0.39 ± 0.01 d	0.19 ± 0.01 a	18.6 ± 0.3 d	4.23 ± 0.08 d	6.91 ± 0.11 d	426 ± 10 d	49.2 ± 1.0 d
	MGEPA	0.40 ± 0.01 d	0.19 ± 0.01 a	18.6 ± 0.3 d	4.25 ± 0.08 d	6.94 ± 0.12 d	548 ± 13 c	59.8 ± 1.2 c
Ir60%	0	0.48 ± 0.01 c	0.12 ± 0.00 c	29.4 ± 0.5 c	12.8 ± 0.21 c	10.4 ± 0.18 c	562 ± 14 c	61.4 ± 1.4 c
	MGE	0.54 ± 0.01 b	0.15 ± 0.01 b	33.2 ± 0.5 b	15.6 ± 0.29 b	13.2 ± 0.22 b	798 ± 17 b	74.5 ± 1.5 b
	MGEPA	0.63 ± 0.02 a	0.19 ± 0.01 a	38.8 ± 0.6 a	19.2 ± 0.37 a	17.6 ± 0.31 a	994 ± 21 a	98.6 ± 1.9 a
Ir30%	0	0.18 ± 0.00 e	0.11 ± 0.00 d	12.2 ± 0.2 e	2.31 ± 0.04 e	5.04 ± 0.10 e	101 ± 2 f	31.0 ± 0.5 f
	MGE	0.18 ± 0.00 e	0.11 ± 0.00 d	12.3 ± 0.2 e	2.33 ± 0.04 e	5.02 ± 0.09 e	104 ± 2 f	31.0 ± 0.5 f
	MGEPA	0.19 ± 0.00 e	0.11 ± 0.00 d	12.3 ± 0.2 e	2.34 ± 0.05 e	5.05 ± 0.10 e	107 ± 2 f	31.4 ± 0.6 f
Two way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(**)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(NS)	(**)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± SE. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (**) or (*) significant at 1 or 5% probability levels, respectively, and (NS) means not significant.

). The parameters mentioned above did not respond to seed soaking in MGE or MGE_PA under Ir90% or Ir30% treatment, except for trans-zeatin and cis-zeatin contents, which were markedly increased by pretreatment with MGE or MGE_PA under Ir90%, with higher efficacy of MGE_PA than MGE. However, under Ir60%, MGE_PA significantly exceeded MGE in increasing the activities and contents of all parameters mentioned above compared to the corresponding controls. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested parameters (Table 6).

3.6. Accumulation of Polyamines (PAs)

The accumulation of PAs (PUT, SPD, and SPM) in wheat plants was markedly raised under Ir60% treatment, while it reduced considerably under Ir30% treatment compared to Ir90% treatment (

Table 7. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on polyamines; PAs (putrescine; PuT, spermidine; SpD, and spermine; SpM) contents (nmol g⁻¹ FW) of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	PuT Content	SpD Content	SpM Content
Ir90%	0	10.3 ± 0.2 e	59.8 ± 0.7 e	54.2 ± 0.6 e
	MGE	15.2 ± 0.2 d	71.4 ± 0.8 d	64.1 ± 0.6 d
	MGEPA	18.4 ± 0.3 c	78.2 ± 0.8 c	72.8 ± 0.7 c
Ir60%	0	18.5 ± 0.3 c	77.8 ± 0.7 c	70.9 ± 0.7 c
	MGE	22.2 ± 0.3 b	86.1 ± 0.9 b	79.4 ± 0.8 b
	MGEPA	25.6 ± 0.4 a	94.4 ± 0.9 a	87.5 ± 0.8 a
Ir30%	0	10.1 ± 0.1 e	38.2 ± 0.3 f	29.6 ± 0.3 f
	MGE	10.4 ± 0.2 e	39.0 ± 0.4 f	29.8 ± 0.2 f
	MGEPA	10.4 ± 0.2 e	39.4 ± 0.4 f	30.4 ± 0.3 f
Two-way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(*)	(*)
MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± SE. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (*) significant at 5% probability levels, respectively, and (NS) means not significant.

). Under optimal irrigation, PAs accumulation was significantly increased with seed soaking in MGE or MGE_PA, with higher efficacy of MGE_PA than MGE compared to the corresponding control. MGE or MGE_PA failed to increase PAs accumulation under Ir30%. However, under Ir60%, MGE_PA significantly exceeded MGE in increasing accumulation of all PAs compared to the corresponding control. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all PAs (Table 7).

3.7. Expression of Biosynthesis Genes of Polyamines (PAs)

Ir60% treatment up-regulated and increased the transcription of all biosynthesis genes of PAs (ADC, SPDS, SPMS, SAMDC, and DHS), but it did not affect ODC gene transcription compared to Ir30% treatment, which did not affect gene transcription (

Table 8. Positive seed priming impacts using maize grain extract without (MGE, 2%) or with polyamines enrichment (MGE_PA, 2%) on relative expression of PAs biosynthetic genes (by qPCR) of drought-stressed wheat plants.

Treatments		Parameters
Drought	MGE %	ADC	ODC	SPDS	SPMS	SAMDC	DHS
Ir90%	0	1.0 ± 0.02 e	1.00 ± 0.01 a	1.0 ± 0.01 f	1.00 ± 0.02 e	1.0 ± 0.01 e	1.0 ± 0.01 f
	MGE	1.4 ± 0.03 d	1.01 ± 0.02 a	1.6 ± 0.02 e	1.22 ± 0.03 d	2.1 ± 0.03 d	1.7 ± 0.02 e
	MGEPA	1.7 ± 0.03 c	1.01 ± 0.01 a	1.9 ± 0.02 d	1.38 ± 0.03 c	2.5 ± 0.05 c	2.1 ± 0.02 d
Ir60%	0	1.5 ± 0.02 d	1.02 ± 0.02 a	2.2 ± 0.03 c	1.42 ± 0.04 c	2.4 ± 0.03 c	2.5 ± 0.03 c
	MGE	1.8 ± 0.03 b	1.02 ± 0.02 a	2.9 ± 0.04 b	1.60 ± 0.05 b	3.1 ± 0.05 b	3.0 ± 0.05 b
	MGEPA	2.0 ± 0.04 a	1.02 ± 0.02 a	3.5 ± 0.05 a	1.75 ± 0.05 a	3.6 ± 0.06 a	3.4 ± 0.05 a
Ir30%	0	1.0 ± 0.02 e	1.00 ± 0.01 a	1.0 ± 0.02 f	1.00 ± 0.02 e	1.0 ± 0.01 e	1.0 ± 0.01 f
	MGE	1.0 ± 0.02 e	1.00 ± 0.01 a	1.0 ± 0.02 f	1.00 ± 0.02 e	1.0 ± 0.02 e	1.0 ± 0.01 f
	MGEPA	1.0 ± 0.02 e	1.00 ± 0.01 a	1.0 ± 0.01 f	1.00 ± 0.02 e	1.0 ± 0.01 e	1.0 ± 0.01 f
Two-way ANOVA results
Drought (D)		(*)	(NS)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(**)
MGE		(*)	(NS)	(*)	(*)	(**)	(*)
D × MGE		(*)	(NS)	(*)	(*)	(*)	(*)

Values presented within columns are means (n = 5) ± SE. The experiment was repeated three times. Means followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). (**) or (*) significant at 1 or 5% probability levels, respectively, and (NS) means not significant.

). Seed soaking in MGE or MGE_PA did not affect transcription of all genes mentioned above under Ir30%. However, under either Ir60% or Ir90%, all gene transcripts were up-regulated and increased with MGE or MGE_PA compared to the corresponding control. Gene transcriptional responses were more efficient under Ir60% than Ir90%, with higher efficacy for MGE_PA than MGE. The interaction (drought × MGE) was significant (p ≤ 0.05 or 0.01) for all tested biosynthesis genes of PAs (Table 8).

4. Discussion

No information is available on soaking wheat seeds in maize grain extract enriched with anti-stress stimulants such as polyamines [PAs (MGE_PA)] to alleviate the adverse impacts of drought stress. In this study, improvements in wheat plant growth and yield under the effects of drought stress were obtained through improvements in physiological and biochemical attributes due to seed priming in MGE or MGE_PA with the advantage of MGE_PA. Some articles reported on significant changes in antioxidant defense system including enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants after exposing different plants to drought stress [7,8,16,63] In the current study, this finding corresponds to the measured up-regulation of the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle, glyoxalase system, trans- and cis-zeatin, and PAs and their biosynthetic genes under drought stress in response to soaking wheat seeds in MGE or MGE_PA. In this regard, the results acquired with MGE_PA exceeded those gained with MGE due to enrichment of MGE_PA with PAs that increased the efficiency of the extract. Nevertheless, previous studies indicated the importance of MGE (the extract without enrichment with PAs) in mitigating the adverse effects of some stresses (salinity, cadmium, sandy state, and salinity+drought) in some crop plants [22,24,25,26,27], but this study reported a higher benefit of MGE_PA than MGE.

In this study, drought stress in terms of deficit irrigation water (DIw) was detrimental to the growth and yield of wheat plants. Damage to wheat growth and yield due to Ir30% (severe drought; 30% of soil relative water content; SRWC) was more severe than that from Ir60% (moderate drought; 60% of SRWC) (Figure 1 and Figure 2,

Table 9. Changes (%) in growth, yield, and physio-biochemical parameters relative to the control (Ir90% + 0% MGE) in wheat plants under drought and maize grain extract applications. Three color scale heatmap, yellow as the midpoint of control and parameters with insignificant values compared to control, red for changes below control values, and green for changes over control values.

Parameters	Treatments
	Ir90% (Control)	Ir90% + MGE	Ir90% + MGEPA	Ir60%	Ir60% + MGE	Ir60% + MGEPA	Ir30%	Ir30% + MGE	Ir30% + MGEPA
Shoot FW	c	+11.2 b	+28.9 a	-21.8 e	−9.1 d	+0.5 c	−48.7 f	−48.2 f	−48.2 f
Shoot DW	c	+15.7 b	+35.0 a	−34.5 e	−20.6 d	−0.9 c	−72.6 f	−72.4 f	−72.6 f
Grain yield	c	+10.0 b	+21.3 a	−51.6 e	−36.7 d	0.0 c	PD *	PD	PD
Grain weight	a	+0.40 a	+1.6 a	−29.8 c	−18.5 b	0.0 a	PD	PD	PD
Chlorophylls	c	+7.6 b	+20.1 a	−27.2 e	−16.3 d	+0.5 c	−53.3 f	−52.2 f	−52.2 f
Carotenoids	c	+11.4 b	+25.0 a	−18.2 e	−6.8 d	+2.3 c	−36.4 f	−36.4 f	−34.1 f
Fv/Fm	c	+6.1 b	+12.2 a	−9.8 d	−6.1 d	0.0 c	−24.4 e	−24.4 e	−23.2 e
PI	c	+11.4 b	+25.7 a	−11.4 e	−5.7 d	0.0 c	−28.6 f	−27.1 f	−25.7 f
Hill activity	c	+9.1 b	+27.3 a	−18.2 e	−9.1 d	0.0 c	−36.4 f	−36.4 f	−36.4 f
Pn	c	+4.3 b	+10.3 a	−18.1 e	−10.3 d	0.0 c	−58.6 f	−58.6 f	−57.8 f
A	b	+6.9 a	+7.6 a	−22.8 d	−13.1 c	−0.7 b	−53.8 e	−53.1 e	−53.1 e
gs	c	+7.6 b	+19.3 a	−36.4 e	−20.2 d	+0.3 c	−65.7 f	−65.1 f	−64.5 f
E	c	+11.1 b	+27.8 a	−38.9 e	−22.2 d	0.0 c	−72.2 f	−72.2 f	−72.2 f
H2 O2	d	−0.6 d	−0.6 d	+54.3 b	+32.4 c	−1.1 d	+171.0 a	+170.2 a	+169.6 a
O2•−	d	−0.8 d	−0.8 d	+109.9 b	+47.9 c	−0.8 d	+248.8 a	+247.1 a	+247.1 a
MDA	d	−0.4 d	−0.6 d	+77.1 b	+47.0 c	−0.5 d	+216.5 a	+216.0 a	+215.8 a
EL (%)	d	−0.2 d	−0.3 d	+137.3 b	+80.1 c	+0.3 d	+492.5 a	+491.7 a	+491.5 a
MSI (%)	a	+0.8 a	+1.6 a	−27.8 c	−8.7 b	−0.3 a	−53.3 d	−52.8 d	−51.4 d
RWC (%)	a	+0.7 a	+1.9 a	−28.8 c	−13.0 b	−0.1 a	−53.5 d	−53.1 d	−52.3 d
SOD	d	0.0 d	+0.2 d	+37.4 c	+48.0 b	+67.0 a	−35.2 e	−35.0 e	−35.2 e
CAT	d	0.0 d	0.0 d	+34.6 c	+56.5 b	+79.4 a	−38.9 e	−38.9 e	−38.6 e
GST	d	0.0 d	+0.6 d	+16.9 c	+41.6 b	+64.0 a	−33.7 e	−33.7 e	−33.1 e
AsA	b	0.0 b	+2.3 b	−25.6 c	0.0 b	+11.6 a	−44.2 d	−44.2 d	−41.9 d
APX	d	0.0 d	+1.1 d	+67.4 c	+87.0 b	+114.1 a	−46.7 e	−46.7 e	−45.7 e
GR	d	0.0 d	+1.5 d	+25.4 c	+35.8 b	+47.8 a	−47.8 e	−46.3 e	−46.3 e
MDHAR	a	+0.3 a	+0.8 a	−47.1 c	−28.1 b	−0.8 a	−62.6 d	−62.6 d	−62.5 d
DHAR	a	0.0 a	+0.8 a	−45.5 c	−25.8 b	−2.3 a	−62.1 d	−61.4 d	−60.6 d
GSH	d	0.0 d	+1.1 d	+19.1 c	+39.3 b	+67.4 a	−28.1 e	−28.1 e	−25.8 e
GSSG	d	0.0 d	+0.9 d	+85.6 c	+133.8 b	+186.0 a	−35.6 e	−35.1 e	−34.2 e
Gly I	d	0.0 d	+2.6 d	+23.1 c	+38.5 b	+61.5 a	−53.8 e	−53.8 e	−51.3 e
Gly II	a	0.0 a	0.0 a	−36.8 c	−21.1 b	0.0 a	−42.1 d	−42.1 d	−42.1 d
Proline	d	+1.1 d	+1.1 d	+59.8 c	+80.4 b	+110.9 a	−33.7 e	−33.2 e	−33.2 e
GB	d	+0.5 d	+1.0 d	+204.0 c	+270.5 b	+356.1 a	−45.1 e	−44.7 e	−44.4 e
S. sugars	d	+0.3 d	+0.7 d	+50.9 c	+91.6 b	+155.4 a	−26.9 e	−27.1 e	−26.7 e
Trans-zeatin	e	+249.2 d	+349.2 c	+360.7 c	+554.1 b	+714.8 a	−19.8 f	−14.8 f	−12.3 f
Cis-zeatin	e	+19.1 d	+44.8 c	+48.7 c	+80.4 b	+138.7 a	−24.9 f	−24.9 f	−24.0 f
PuT	e	+47.6 d	+78.6 c	+79.6 c	+115.5 b	+148.5 a	−1.9 e	+1.0 e	+1.0 e
SpD	e	+19.4 d	+30.8 c	+30.1 c	+44.0 b	+57.9 a	−36.1 f	−34.8 f	−34.1 f
SpM	e	+18.3 d	+34.3 c	+30.8 c	+79.7 b	+61.4 a	−45.4 f	−45.0 f	−43.9 f
ADC	e	+40.0 d	+70.0 c	+50.0 d	+80.0 b	+100.0 a	0.0 e	0.0 e	0.0 e
ODC	a	+1.0 a	+1.0 a	+2.0 a	+2.0 a	+2.0 a	0.0 a	0.0 a	0.0 a
SPDS	f	+60.0 e	+90.0 d	+120.0 c	+190.0 b	+250.0 a	0.0 f	0.0 f	0.0 f
SPMS	e	+22.0 d	+38.0 c	+42.0 c	+60.0 b	+75.0 a	0.0 e	0.0 e	0.0 e
SAMDC	e	+110.0 d	+150.0 c	+140.0 c	+210.0 b	+260.0 a	0.0 e	0.0 e	0.0 e
DHS	f	+70.0 e	+110.0 d	+150.0 c	+200.0 b	+240.0 a	0.0 f	0.0 f	0.0 f

Changes (%) followed by different letter are significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). * PD = Dead plants.

). The plants did not survive under severe drought even with pretreatment with both extracts (plants died during the flowering stage; Figure 1). This negative finding can be attributed to the drought affecting plant physiology and biochemistry (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). In this study, the decreased growth and yield of drought-stressed wheat plants associated with the overproduction of reactive species of oxygen (ROS), especially H₂O₂ and O₂^•− (Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). This finding is consistent with that obtained by Noctor et al. [64] and Wang et al. [65]. The plant’s first response to drought is closed leaf stomata to reduce loss of water through transpiration (Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). As a result of continuous photosynthesis in light, the depletion of intercellular CO₂ concentration is facilitated by an increased gas diffusion barrier. Therefore, the low CO₂ availability catalyzes the oxygenation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, thereby increasing the production of photorespiratory H₂O₂ in cell peroxisomes [64]. Drought treatments negatively affected leaf photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic efficiency, gas exchange parameters, cell membranes (increase in lipid peroxidation; MDA and ionic leakage; EL, and decrease in stability index), RWC, zeatins, osmoprotectant and PAs contents, antioxidant enzyme, AsA-GSH cycle and glyoxalase system activities, and transcription of PAs biosynthetic genes (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). Drought-stimulated oxidative stress (increased production of H₂O₂ and O₂^•−; Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9) caused these negative findings. Over Ir60%, Ir30% caused exacerbation of MDA and EL and severely affected PSII function efficiency (Figure 2 and Table 9), causing stomatal closure (Table 2 and Table 9), which disrupted the plant antioxidant system (Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9), and eventually, the plant did not survive.

However, the advantage of seed soaking in both extracts (MGE or MGE_PA) was reported under moderate drought (Ir60%). The higher benefit of MGE_PA over MGE can be attributed to the additional benefits of PAs granted through pretreatment with MGE_PA, where PAs play important roles in mitigating the damage caused by different stresses on crop plants [29,66,67,68]. Yildiztugay et al. [69] reported a relationship between the plant’s biomass (growth) and its water content. Similarly, our results displayed this relationship (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). Despite the benefit of pretreatment with MGE, MGE_PA enabled wheat plants to function normally under Ir60% and revealed growth (biomass) and leaf relative water content (RWC), and thus yield similar to that gained by the optimum irrigated plants (Ir90%; control). Wheat plants pretreated with MGE_PA and subjected to Ir60% had leaf photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis efficiency (Fv/Fm, PI, and hill reaction activity; HRA), and gas exchange parameters identical to those obtained with well-watered plants (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). The damage caused by Ir60% was repaired with MGE_PA. During the soaking process, the seeds can absorb the bioactive ingredients from the extract such as antioxidants (AsA and GSH) and hormones (salicylic acid and cytokinins (CKs), especially t-Z and c-Z), in addition to the extract PAs (Table 1). These bioactive ingredients enrich the seeds and accelerate metabolism, giving them robust germination and strong seedlings to withstand drought stress.

Under Ir60%, MGE_PA preserved leaf photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic efficiency along with gas exchange parameters, which contributed to the maintenance of wheat yield (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). In this regard, Farooq et al. [16] reported a positive correlation between chlorophyll contents and grain yield in wheat plants. Moreover, the maintenance of PSII function (HRA), antioxidant system, and biosynthesis genes of PAs (Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9) along with the beneficial impacts of the bioactive stimulants present in MGE_PA (Table 1) contributed well to the plant’s performance under drought stress. Under Ir60%, some antioxidant compounds supported MGE_PA-pretreated plants to cause cell membrane stabilization by suppressing H₂O₂ and O₂^•− levels, thus reducing MDA and EL levels (Table 3 and Table 9). In this study, as drought stress caused a reduction in chlorophyll content, it caused leaf yellowing and senescence (data not shown). This finding can be attributed to a degradation of chlorophyll and a dysregulation of the photosynthetic apparatus, including decreased HRA, and thus a reduction in wheat yield. Nevertheless, MGE_PA enabled wheat plants to stay green by maintaining the chlorophyll content for as long as possible, thus producing better under drought stress (Figure 2, Table 9) due to the bioactive stimulants present in MGE_PA. This finding is consistent with that obtained by [22,24,25,26,27] under different abiotic stress conditions. Drought-stressed wheat plant becomes better performer (in terms of growth and yield characteristics) when pretreated with MGE, which has a high ROS-scavenging activity (88.6 ± 1.6%) due to the high contents of different antioxidants, plant hormones, and PAs present in MGE (Table 1). The performance of stressed plant becomes higher with MGE_PA due to the PAs added to MGE. Ghassemi et al. [70] reported that PAs improved root growth and development and adjusted cellular water potential after emergence, leading to increased nutrient uptake and translocation in drought-stressed plants. In addition, the enhanced translocation of assimilates, which are photosynthesized in plant leaves, to the edible portion (the grains) is attributed to the longer duration of photosynthesis due to the green leaf survival merit, resulting in a longer period of grain filling under stress [16]. This finding is in line with the finding of this study, which is likely due to the ability of MGE_PA-pretreated wheat plants to stimulate the activity of the antioxidant system to withstand DIw stress (Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9) and enable the plants to perform better with regard to the meristematic tissue activities, including the stimulation of cell division and expansion due to maintaining adequate water (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). As a result, it becomes possible to obtain a satisfactory improvement in the growth of drought-stressed plants due to the richness of MGE, especially after its enrichment with PAs, in phytohormones, auxins, CKs including zeatins, gibberellins (GAs), and PAs (Table 1). Therefore, hormonal homeostasis could be induced with MGE_PA as a potential mechanism for boosting DIw stress tolerance in plants. This hormonal homeostasis mechanism could function through a complex cross-talk among auxins, CKs and GAs, as well as among plant hormones, PAs, and other biostimulants as an anti-stress network in favor of the plant’s response to DIw stress.

In this study, under low availability of water, MGE_PA pretreatment replaced the detrimental effects of DIw to marked increases in wheat growth and yield due to the increase in gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic efficiency including HRA, and the biosynthesis of chlorophyll catalyzed by the biostimulants present in MGE_PA, which contributed to elimination of the biomarkers of oxidative stress (H₂O₂ and O₂^•−) and preservation of cell membranes and cell water content due to reduced levels of EL and MDA accumulation (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). Different stresses cause a detrimental effect on EL and membrane lipids due to overproduced ROS, which disrupt chlorophyll biosynthesis due to disruption of the pigment protein complex functioning, de novo protein biosynthesis, and chlorophyll-associated components [8,16,71,72]. However, MGE_PA bioactive promoters eliminated these harmful effects and mediated improvement in chlorophyll biosynthesis (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). MGE_PA pretreatment can stimulate the accumulation of different plant hormones in germinated seeds and thus seedlings, especially CKs, to improve the biosynthesis of chlorophylls as shown in Cortleven et al. [73]. In this study, MGE_PA pretreatment improved photosynthesis efficiency and PSII activity (Fv/Fm, PI, and HRA), which could be attributed to suppressing the formation of ROS (¹O₂, H₂O₂, and O^2•‒), thus protecting the chloroplast structure from DIw-induced oxidative stress damage (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 9). In this regard, Tikkanen et al. [74] attributed a similar result to the safeguarded light reaction functioning in photosynthesis process, which is functionally synchronized with PSI and PSII enzymes. The functioning of both photosystems is connected to the generation of trans-thylakoid proton, which creates a pH difference for regulating the transfer of electrons to PSI under direct monitoring of the PGR5 protein. As a result of its richness in bioactive stimuli, especially plant hormones, MGE_PA can enhance the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and proteins implicated in photosynthesis regulation, in addition to mediating the synthesis of components of redox that may have contributed to photo-protection. In addition, MGE_PA can increase carotenoids synthesis that can protect the photosynthesis system from the overproduction of ROS by up-regulating pigment-synthesizing enzyme activities associated with reducing the degradation of enzymes [25,26,75]. This result is consistent with Aldesuquy [76], who reported a positive synergistic impact of plant hormones on pigment and fine chloroplast structure in the flag leaf of stressed wheat plant.

As previously obtained in some works [22,24,25,26,27], reduced levels of H₂O₂ and O₂^•− and thus reduced lipid peroxidation and EL were obtained with the MGE_PA-pretreated plant under DIw stress (Table 3 and Table 9). The MGE-mediated enhanced membrane integrity (due to reduced membrane EL and MDA) could be attributed to the bioactive components in present MGE_PA (Table 1), which contributed to the maintenance of the components of the antioxidant system, in addition to the low peroxidation levels, which were considerably influenced by DIw stress. MGE_PA pretreatment considerably enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes and raised the contents of AsA and glutathione forms (e.g., GSH and GSSG), thus protecting the wheat plants from the oxidative stress (H₂O₂ and O₂^•−) stimulated by DIw. Similar results are previously gained [22,24,25,26,27] under different stresses. Integrally, after dismutating O₂^•− to H₂O₂ by SOD, APX and CAT convert H₂O₂ to H₂O and O₂. This mechanism reduces the formation of hydroxyl; OH^‒ radicals [77]. Since MGE_PA is a rich source of bioactive stimulants, it may stimulate SOD up-regulation to further dismutate O₂^•− to H₂O₂. Plants pretreated with MGE_PA possessed stimulated AsA and GSH accumulations, which could protect stressed plants from ROS damage stimulated by DIw. All antioxidants (GR, APX, MDHAR, DHAR, GSH, and AsA) are components of the ROS-scavenging pathway (the AsA-GSH cycle), which can be stimulated and up-regulated by MGE_PA to elevate tolerance strategies against any potential damage from oxidative stress in the wheat plant (Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). This robust enhancement in the antioxidant system in the DIw-stressed wheat plants pretreated with MGE_PA resulted in a marked decrease in ROS accumulation (e.g., H₂O₂ and O₂^•−) through the AsA‒GSH cycle and thus increased the protection of pathways of photosynthesis, resulting in better performance (e.g., growth and yield productivity) of wheat plants (Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). The AsA‒GSH cycle includes a sequence of redox reactions, which includes bioactive participation of NADPH, GSH, and AsA [78]. Through this cycle, H₂O₂ molecules in cell cytosol and chloroplasts are scavenged by APX and CAT, thus preventing H₂O₂ diffusion to other organelles to avoid any damage. The improved functionality of the ASA–GSH cycle pathway due to pretreatment with MGE_PA effectively maintained redox components, including GSH and AsA. These redox components reduced the effects of oxidative stress (H₂O₂ and O₂^•−) stimulated by DIw. In this study, the increased antioxidant system activity was accompanied by an enhanced tolerance to DIw stress in the wheat plant. Similar results were gained by [16,25,79]. DHAR and MDHAR activities, which may be up-regulated after pretreatment with MGE_PA, improved AsA and GSH to integrate the functions of other enzymes such as GR and APX with non-enzymatic antioxidant components. As a result, a comprehensive impact occurred on H₂O₂ neutralization and the availability of NADP to effectively protect the electron transport chain [80]. In this study, pretreatment with MGE_PA bioactive stimulants protected the electron transport chain implicated in photosynthesis, which may be attributed to the up-regulation of the NADP⁺/NADPH ratio. This mechanism prevents the flow of electrons into O₂ to restrict O₂^•− production [81]. This study provides a preventive role of MGE_PA, given its richness in bioactive stimuli including plant hormones, for the photosynthesis system through the up-regulation of the antioxidant system components.

High levels of GSH can contribute significantly to MGE_PA-pretreated wheat plants to maintain the glycoxylase system for methylglyoxal elimination, which may reduce the chances of any dangerous genotoxic influence [82]. Glyoxylase I and II (Gly I and Gly II) constitute the main enzymatic components of the ‘glyoxylase system’. MGE_PA bioactive stimuli-stimulated up-regulation in the enzymatic activities of glyoxylase system could be associated with increased levels of GSH. This may have exploited the improved influences of methylglyoxal such as crosstalk with important signalling molecules such as Ca²⁺, ABA, and ROS [83]. This is the first report conducted with MGE_PA for DIw-stressed wheat plants, in which the MGE_PA bioactive stimuli can optimize methylglyoxal. Gly I utilizes GSH as a co-factor to convert the methylglyoxal to S-D-lactoylglutathione. In addition, Gly II produces GSH to contribute to redox homeostasis and protection against toxic species [84]. It can be concluded that improvement in endogenous GSH by pretreatment using MGE_PA bioactive stimuli and the functioning of methylglyoxal scavenging system could enhance stress tolerance in wheat plants. Ahanger et al. [85] explained up-regulation and the improvement of glyoxylase system activity due to exogenous treatment with kinetin. This result is consistent with our results through the application of CKs-containing MGE_PA, which improved activity of glyoxylase system (Table 6 and Table 9). This enhanced glycosylase system activity may protect the system of electron transport by inhibiting any damage to chloroplasts and mitochondrial ultra-structures [82].

In this study, DIw encouraged osmoprotectant accumulations (e.g., GB, S. sugars, and proline), and these accumulations were further enhanced due to pretreatment with MGE_PA bioactive stimulants. This accumulation of osmoprotectants may occur due to their absorption from MGE_PA and/or their increased biosynthesis catalyzed by MGE_PA in soaked seeds then seedlings. These increased osmoprotectants may give the seeds the driving force for strong germination and thus vigorous seedling growth under stress. Improvements of these osmolytes may be effective mechanisms to increase plant tolerance to DIw stress to maintain adequate cell water for healthy metabolism (Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). The up-regulation of proline-synthesizing enzymes along with the down-regulation of proline-catabolizing enzymes and/or low incorporation into proteins leads to proline accumulation [86,87]. The improvement in GB, S. sugars, and proline accumulations as a result of MGE_PA pretreatment resulted in the maintenance of water balance in DIw-stressed plants to help them withstand DIw stress and avoid increased EL and MDA in plant tissues for healthy metabolic processes, protection of protein turnover, enzymatic activities, and expression of stress protective proteins. These results indicate the protective role of MGE_PA for healthy metabolic pathways and effective osmoregulation. Similar results were obtained by Ahanger and Agarwal [85] and Thakur and Sharma [88].

Bypassing MGE, MGE_PA attenuated DIw stress and helped the photosynthetic system to perform efficiently (Figure 2, Table 9) in favor of plant metabolism [27], resulting in a lot of savings including hormonal contents (e.g., CKs such as t-Z and c-Z) in DIw-stressed plants (Table 6 and Table 9). Therefore, zeatins play a fundamental role in wheat plant response to DIw stress. Mediating plant response to stress, specifically CKs and their signaling components, predominantly regulate plant defense reactions [89]. T-Z and c-Z have been reported to modulate the wheat plant’s defense response to stress through several mechanisms including defense genes and hormonal regulation [26]. This result confirms the results of this study with t-Z and c-Z-containing MGE_PA (Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). This study reported significant increases in trans-zeatin and cis-zeatin contents with MGE_PA pretreatment and supported wheat plant’s tolerance to DIw stress (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). Previous reports indicated increased t-Z activity compared to cis-zeatin, which was demonstrated in this study with a higher trans-zeatin content compared to c-Z, which may lead to an increase in the physiological role of t-Z to stimulate a higher increase in PAs contents and their gene expressions under DIw stress due to pretreatment of the plant with MGE_PA (Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). This finding may be attributed to the transport, degradation, and conjugation processes of these hormones [90,91].

In this study, the MGE_PA-conferred increase in PAs contents and their gene expressions contributed to distinct defense mechanisms, which improved the tolerance of the wheat plant to DIw stress (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). The integrated defense mechanisms of antioxidant and osmoregulation systems along with hormonal content and gene expressions of PAs, regulated by MGE_PA not only evaluate efficacy in limiting the effects of hazardous stress but also modulate physiological status to terminate the trade-off of plant integrity related to defense responses (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). Therefore, wheat plants could survive better with MGE_PA pretreatment in areas with a shortage of water such as dry ones. MGE_PA pretreatment stimulated more accumulation in PAs (PUT, SPD, and SPM) that act as signaling molecules to focus primarily on metabolism in relation to conservation against DIw stress in wheat plants (Table 7 and Table 9). This finding, together with other cumulative zeatins and antioxidants (Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9), is likely due to the attenuation of the adverse effects of DIw stress through its powerful antioxidant roles [29,67] and their gene expressions [26]. Cumulative levels of endogenous PAs under DIw stress conditions have been linked to effective up-regulation of SPDS, ADC, DHS, SPMS, and SAMDC gene expression but not to the ODC gene (Table 8 and Table 9). Similar results were reported by Ebeed et al. [67] and Alharby et al. [26]. The results of this study indicate that PAs, PUT, SPD, and SPM were synthesized under DIw stress through the SPDS, ADC, DHS, SPMS, and SAMDC pathways (and not from ODC) in wheat plants. Various enzymes were involved in the pathway from PUT to SPM and SPD, including SAMDC, SPDS, and SPMS gene expression. The endogenous levels of SPD, SPM, and PUT that accumulated by MGE_PA in DIw-stressed wheat plants were connected to the up-regulated gene expression levels of the ADC, SPDS, SPMS, SAMDC, and DHS genes, giving wheat plants a robust antioxidant defense to withstand DIw stress (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9).

MGE_PA efficiently outperformed MGE in promoting wheat plant growth, grain yield, physio-biochemistry, and antioxidant defense system components (Figure 1 and Figure 2, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, Table 6, Table 7, Table 8 and Table 9). These promoted results can be attributed to MGE_PA’s further enrichment of PAs along with its high antioxidants and phytohormone contents, as well as its higher antioxidant activity (88.6%) (Table 1). This makes MGE_PA possess pivotal mechanisms for inhibiting or at least minimizing the dangerous impacts of oxidative stress, cell membrane lipid peroxidation, and ionic leakage [25,26]. Therefore, MGE_PA, an eco-friendly strategy, is a powerful natural extract that contains many antioxidants and biostimulants for plant growth under stress.

5. Conclusions

Drought stress led to a severe decrease in wheat plant growth and yield due to stress negative effects such as decreased chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, water content, and gas exchange, in addition to PAs gene expression, and increased membrane lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage due to increased oxidative stress. These negative effects can be attenuated by using a plant extract such as biostimulants-rich MGE enriched with PAs (MGE_PA) as a seed soaking strategy. MGE_PA (2%) pretreatment promoted wheat plant growth and yield by improving photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant and osmoregulation systems, and PAs gene expression. This was due to reduced oxidative stress damage by MGE_PA through improved enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities and up-regulation of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle and the glyoxalase system. All these positive results were reflected in the decrease in memebrane lipid peroxidation and the leakage of electrolytes under drought stress. This study predicts that plant extracts such as biostimulants-rich MGE enriched with PAs possess signaling networks that interfere with many physiological and biochemical pathways to develop DIw-tolerant crops for effective sustainable agriculture.