Foliar application of thiourea ameliorates drought stress by elevating antioxidant level in rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) Singh Talveer1,*, Sandhu Parminder Singh2, Chahal Gagandeep Kaur3, Jaidka Manpreet4 1Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab 3Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab 2Dr. D R Bhumbla Regional Research Station, (PAU), Ballowal, Saunkhri-144 521, Punjab 4Krishi Vigyan Kendra, (PAU), Langroya, Punjab *Corresponding author: singhtalveer13@gmail.com
Online published on 16 September, 2020. Abstract Effect of foliar application of thiourea (500 and 1000 ppm) on antioxidant defence system of rainfed maize was evaluated for four planting methods (flat and ridge methods sown with and without mulch) in a field study conducted at Ballowal Saunkhri and at Langroya in Punjab during summer 2018. At Ballowal Saunkhri, maize sown on ridges and sprayed with 1000 ppm thiourea had significantly higher enzymatic antioxidants catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase. Thiourea and sowing methods had no effect on these enzymes at Langroya. For non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenol, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content), maize sprayed with 1000ppm thiourea and sown on ridges had higher values at both locations. It is concluded that sowing of maize on ridges and spraying with 1000 ppm thiourea could be adopted for ameliorating moisture stress in maize. Top Keywords Abiotic stress, Drought stress, Maize, Punjab, Thiourea. Top |