Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Effect of foliar application of ascorbic acid on quantitative and qualitative traits as well as some biochemical changes in leaves of grain corn (Zea maize L.) under water deficit stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Hamidreza Towhidi Moghaddam
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Varamin, Iran
10.22059/ijfcs.2017.140380.654018
Abstract
In order to study the effects of water deficit stress and foliar application of ascorbic acid on some agronomic, physiologic and biochemical traits of corn, an experiment was conducted in research field of  Agriculture  Faculty  of Islamic Azad University, Varamin Branch in Iran during 2014 growing season. The experimental design was laid out in a randomized complete block arranged in split plots with three replicates. Irrigation at four levels (normal irrigation according to the region, irrigation withholding at eight leafy stage, irrigation withholding at silking stage and irrigation withholding at eight leaf stage and silking stages) as the main factor and ascorbic acid foliar application at three levels (0, 50 and 100 ppm) as the sub-factor were allocated to main and sub plots, respectively. The results showed that irrigation withholding at different growth stages significantly decreased seed yield and biological yield, harvest index, oil and protein percentage, oil and protein yield, total chlorophyll content, increased proline content and superoxide dismutase activity in the leaves. Foliar application of ascorbic acid could prevent quantitative and qualitative yield loss and chlorophyll degradation. In addition, ascorbic acid foliar application decreased proline accumulation and superoxide dismutase activity in the leaves. In general, considering the qualitative and quantitative improvement in studied traits, it can be concluded that ascorbic acid application can scavenge reactive oxygen species and reduce antioxidant enzyme activity and proline accumulation, which in turn, leads to increased seed yield and quality with improving growth conditions.
Keywords
Grain protein
Irrigation withholding
proline
superoxide dismutase enzyme
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science
Volume 48, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2017
Pages 365-375

  • Receive Date 11 January 2016
  • Revise Date 20 June 2016
  • Accept Date 23 June 2016
  • Publish Date 23 August 2017