Antioxidant status of the different sweet maize hybrids under herbicide and foliar fertilizer application

Abstract

The chemical method of weed control is an indispensable step in cropping practices of sweet maize. Application of the herbicides can induce the abiotic stress which affects the non-enzymatic antioxidants in the crops, especially on the sensitive one, like sweet maize is. Antioxidant profile, through the measurement of the soluble phenolic, carotenoids, phytic acid and glutathione concentration, in the grain of the three sweet maize hybrids after application of herbicides, foliar fertilizer, as well as their combinations, in field experiment, conducted over a two-year period, was determined. The content of tested antioxidant parameters was dependent on hybrids, growing season, as well as of the applied treatment. Sulfonylurea herbicides significantly increased the antioxidant status of sweet maize fresh grain, compared to the herbicide from triketone group, without affecting the fresh grain yield. Combination of herbicide plus foliar fertilizer expressed a various impact on antioxidant profile of the maize grain. Furthermore, significant correlations (positive and negative) between fresh grain yield and analyzed antioxidants in grain of three sweet maize hybrids were noticed.