The effect of hydrogen peroxide pretreatment and copper foliar application on some physiological traits and quantitative yield of SC704 maize hybrid under water deficit stress

In order to investigate the effect of hydrogen peroxide pretreatment and copper foliar application on some physiological traits and quantitative yield of corn under water deficit stress, a Split split plot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications, plants were planted in during two years (2017-19) in Baghmalek. The main plot of the irrigation regime with 4 normal levels, stopping irrigation 40, 55 and 70 days after the appearance of tassels, the sub-plot of copper foliar spraying with two control levels and 0.30 kg net per hectare from the source of copper sulfate 50% 25 days after the emergence of tassel and sub-plot of seed treatment with hydrogen peroxide with 3 control levels, 30 and 60 mM. The results showed that the triple interaction of irrigation regime, copper foliar application and hydrogen peroxide on chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll b, total carotenoid, catalase activity, plant height, number of seeds in a row and seed yield was significant at the probability level of 1%. The highest plant height and the number of seeds in the row were obtained from copper foliar spraying treatments and the application of 60 mM hydrogen peroxide under normal irrigation conditions. Also, the highest seed yield (9530.07 kg/ha) was obtained under normal irrigation conditions and copper foliar spraying and the application of 60 mM hydrogen peroxide, which showed an increase of about 42% compared to the cessation of irrigation 40 days after the emergence of tassels and the absence of copper foliar spraying and the absence of hydrogen peroxide application. The activity of catalase increased by 67% in the condition of stopping irrigation 40 days after the appearance of tassel and copper foliar application and application of 30 mM hydrogen peroxide compared to normal and control irrigation conditions. In general, the results of the experiment showed that copper foliar spraying and application of 60 mM hydrogen peroxide in suitable humidity conditions can increase chlorophyll content, grain yield and overall improvement of corn production.