Effect of Foliar Application by some Antioxidants on Growth and Productivity of Maize under Saline Soil Conditions

Abstract

This research investigates the physiological effect of exogenous antioxidants application at different rates on growth and productivity of maize crop grown under saline soils condition. A field trail was conducted at a field located in South Port Said, Egypt, during the two successive summer seasons 2016 and 2017 on yellow maize three cross hybrid 352 grown under saline soil condition to study the effect of exogenous antioxidants, i.e., ascorbic, citric and salicylic acids at 100 and 200 ppm concentration for each one as well as mixture of 100 ppm for the three antioxidant under study. Results could be summarized as follows: The foliar application with 100 ppm of antioxidant mixture increased plant height, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL)], potassium content, ear length, grain weight/ear, 100- grain weight, grain and straw yields, followed by foliar application with 200 ppm of ascorbic acid (AA). However, proline, sodium contents and sodium/potassium ratio in leaves were decreased as compared with control.