The effects of foliar application of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on physiological and biochemical changes of corn (Zea mays L) under irrigation withholding in different growth stages

To study the effects of ascorbic acid foliar application and limited irrigation in different growth stages on physiological and biochemical changes of corn, an experiment was conducted in Varamin, Iran during the growing season of 2012. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks in split plots arrangement with three replications. Main plots included four different levels of irrigation (complete irrigation, irrigation withholding at 8-leaf stage, irrigation withholding at silks appearance stage and irrigation withholding at both 8-leaf stage and silks appearance stages) and different concentration of foliar application of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) (0, 75, and 150 ppm) were allocated to subplots. The results showed that irrigation withholding conditions in different growth stages significantly decreased seed yield, RWC and total chlorophyll but by contrast increased proline content, antioxidant enzymes activity. Ascorbic acid foliar application in irrigation with holding in different growth stages had positive effect on all attributes in this experiment. In general, the results of the present study indicate that usage of AsA reduces the harmful effects of water deficit stress and increases resistance to drought stress in corn plant