ROLE OF SALICYLIC ACID AND POTASSIUM IN ENHANCING STRESS TOLERANCE IN MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a world-important cereal crop but its productivity is becoming increasingly limited by abiotic stress that includes drought, salinity and heat that alters physiological and biochemical processes and destabilizes yield. There is therefore a need to increase stress tolerance in maize in order to maintain productivity under fluctuating climatic conditions. The review summarizes the available literature on the individual and synergistic effect of salicylic acid and potassium in improving abiotic stress tolerance in maize. Literature was reviewed considering growth parameters, physiological reaction, biochemical stress responses and yield properties. The literature indicates that abiotic stress has a serious impact on the growth, physiological performance, antioxidant balance, and yield of untreated plants. Salicylic acid and potassium alleviated these negative effects and the combination treatment had the best effects on chlorophyll content, relative water content, antioxidant enzyme activity, membrane stability, and grain yield. The results indicate that the combination of salicylic acid and potassium is a viable and feasible approach to the improvement of the stress tolerance of maize. This has great potential to enhance productivity, input-use efficiency and sustainability of the maize production in the stress-prone agro-ecological areas.