Foliar application of thiourea ameliorates drought stress by elevating antioxidant level in rainfed maize (Zea mays L.)

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.