Influence of Moisture Stress Management Practices on Biochemical Properties of Maize (zea Mays L.)

Field investigations were conducted in the Northern block, Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Erode during rabi 2017-18 & 2018-19 and summer 2018 & 2019 to assess the influence of moisture stress management practices in different irrigation regimes in maize. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications comprised of four irrigation regimes as main factor based on IW/CPE ratio of 1.0 (I1.0), 0.8(I0.8), 0.6 (I0.6) and 0.4 (I0.4) and four moisture stress management treatments viz., foliar application of pink pigmented facultative methylobacteria 1% (FPPFM), Brassinolide 0.1 ppm (FBr), Silicic acid 0.2% (FSl) and control (FC) as a sub factor. Foliar application was given on 25 and 45 DAS for each treatment in the sub plot. Maize cultivar CO(H)M 6 was used as a test variety spaced with 60 x 25 cm. Results revealed that, IW/CPE 0.4 registered significantly higher proline content (7.82, 7.60, 10.63 and 12.06 µg g-1), catalase activity (5.09, 5.03, 5.02 and 5.70 µmol g-1 min-1) and peroxidase activity (45.8, 45.2, 45.2 and 51.3 µmol g-1 min-1) at 60 DAS respectively during rabi 2017-18 & 2018-19 and summer 2018 & 2019 among the irrigation regimes. Remarkably lower proline content, catalase and peroxidase activity were found in IW/CPE 1.0. In moisture stress management practices, significantly higher proline content at 60 DAS (5.57, 5.42, 7.50 and 8.40 µg g-1 respectively during rabi 2017-18 & 2018-19 and summer 2018 & 2019) was recorded in brassinolide 0.1 ppm applied plants barring control and admirably lower proline content was recorded in foliar application of PPFM 1% on 25 and 45 DAS. IW/CPE 1.0 with no moisture stress management practices (FC) recorded significantly lower proline content and was comparable with other moisture stress management treatments in IW/CPE 1.0. Distinctly higher catalase (4.39, 4.33, 4.28 and 4.77 µmol g-1 min-1 at 60 DAS respectively during rabi 2017-18 & 2018-19 and summer 2018 & 2019) and peroxidase activity (39.5, 39.0, 38.5 and 42.9 µmol g-1 min-1 at 60 DAS respectively during rabi 2017-18 & 2018-19 and summer 2018 & 2019) was noticed in PPFM 1% foliar applied treatment. In interaction effect, foliar application of PPFM 1% on 25 and 45 DAS at IW/CPE 0.4 recorded lucidly higher catalase and peroxidase activity at 60 DAS. Significantly lower catalase activity was recorded in IW/CPE 0.8 (Mild stress) with control and was comparable with other treatments at IW/CPE 1.0 (No stress).