Abstract
The regulatory effect of salicylic acid under biotic and abiotic stresses can be
constructive for maize cultivation in water deficit conditions of subtropical
environments. Therefore, we investigated the effect of applying salicylic acid (SA) on
growth, yield attributes and quality related traits of two maize hybrids (ICI-9091 and
Pioneer-1543) under limited irrigation. The plants were grown at the Agronomic
Research Area of Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan during spring 2016.
We conducted one independent experiment with completely randomized design (CRD)
with factorial arrangement and repeated thrice, under green-house, using four
treatments viz. control, irrigation deficit with 0% SA, irrigation deficit with 1% SA and
full irrigation with 1% SA. Salicylic acid was sprayed at 10-12 leaf stage. The obtained
data revealed that, irrigation deficit (p≤0.05) affected different growth and yield
variables like plant height, stem diameter, cob length, number of rows per cob, number
of grains per row, 1000-grain weight, biological and economic yield (t ha-1
).
Additionally, relative water content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar and grain
protein content were also affected (p≤0.05) by irrigation deficit. Moreover, spraying
maize hybrids with 1% SA significantly (p≤0.05) increased the growth, yield and
quality parameters of both maize hybrids under full and deficit irrigation conditions
except the proline content. Between maize hybrids, Pioneer-1543 proved significantly
(p≤0.05) better tolerance under irrigation deficit condition as compared to ICI-9091.
On the basis of results, it is suggested that under limited irrigation maize yield may be
linked with the effect of SA application on the yield attributes.
Atique-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Mohsin Altaf, Rafi Qamar. (2019) Salicylic acid improves yield and grain quality of hybrid maize under deficit irrigation in subtropical region, Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 7, Issue 4.
-
Views
629 -
Downloads
55
Article Details
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
