Ascorbic acid ameliorates drought stress in maize (Zea mays l.) grown under field conditions

Author(s) : Ali Ahmad, Zubair Aslam, Shoaib Naeem, Muhammad Sarwar, Anser Ali and Muhammad Imdad Ullah

Digital object identifier:

https://doi.org/10.52587/JAF04020

Abstract:

Drought is a serious abiotic constraint against the growth and production of maize. Different management approaches have been adopted to cope with the negative effects of water deficit. Therefore, a trial was carried out to optimize the concentration of cenolate (ascorbic acid) and to assess its role in ameliorating the negative effects of drought for sustainable crop production. The treatments comprised of (a) three drought levels: D0= control (no drought), D1= drought at vegetative stage or 40 days after emergence (skip irrigation), D2= drought at reproductive or silking stage (skip irrigation), (b) two maize varieties:V1= FH-1046 (drought tolerant), V2= FH-1137 (drought-sensitive) and (c) four levels of ascorbic acid (0, 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM and 1.50 mM). The results showed that drought caused a significant reduction in the photosynthetic pigments, shoot biomass and plant growth. However, treatment of ascorbic acid through the foliar method decreased the adverse impacts of drought. Application of ascorbic acid increased the plant vigor and final productivity of maize by improving the antioxidative defense system, stabilizing membrane, maintaining water levels and increasing the contents of photosynthetic pigments. Among cultivars, FH-1046 was comparatively resistant against drought. Foliar applied AsA at lower concentration (1.0 mM) showed positive influences in both maize cultivars grown under water-limited conditions.