Effect of Salicylic Acid and Calcium Chloride on Growth of Corn Under Water Stress Condition

Abstract

Purpose: Oxidation stress occurs when plants are exposed to water stress and it limits the plant growth and yield. The application of salicylic acid (SA) and CaCl2 is expected to alleviate this stress and induce plant growth and yield in corn. Research Method: Corn was planted in two main plots, normal and drought irrigation regimes (three- and four-day water withholding, respectively), and each main plot was divided into three sub plots, that were no-application, application with 0.01 SA and 0.01 SA + 45 mM CaCl2 sections. A plant growth regulator was sprayed on the corn two times on days 20 (before water withholding begin) and 50. The corn height, shoot fresh weight and corn yield (ear weight, ear diameter, ear length, number of rows/ear and seeds/ row) were measured on day 65. Statistically significant differences between treatments were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA. Findings: Between days 25 – 60, the shoot length of the corn growing in the drought irrigation plot was higher than that in either normal irrigation plot (receiving plant growth regulator or not). On day 65, only the corn sprayed with SA shown similar shoot lengths between the different irrigation regimes. The ear diameter and weight of corn grown in the drought irrigation were better than under normal irrigation. SA application could induce shoot fresh weight and ear growth under normal irrigation, while the SA + CaCl2 application induced the ear diameter and ear weight in the drought irrigated plot. Originality/ Value: With these results, it is possible to use SA and CaCl2 to promote plant growth and yield in acidic soil