IMPROVING THE DROUGHT TOLERANCE OF MAIZE SEEDLING BY EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF MELATONIN

Abstract

Drought inhibits crop growth and reduces maize productivity. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance maize drought tolerance. In this study, HN68 hybrid maize was treated with melatonin at 50 µM, 100 µM and 150 µM at the seed stage and three-leaf stage seedlings. Maize seedlings were drought-treated by not watering and isolating it from water. Research results show that 150 µM melatonin treatment reduce damage and increase relative drought tolerance index. Maize was treated with 150 µM melatonin showed the superiority in some biochemical parameters such as soluble sugar content, proline content, α-amylase enzyme activity, and catalase compared with the control. Research results show that application of exogenous melatonin is a potential target for improving maize resistance to drought stress.