Comparison of physio-biochemical and antioxidant enzymes in maize during early growth stage in response to salt stress

Salinity stress is a major hazard to crops, severely restricting agricultural productivity around the world. Salt stress has a negative impact on the growth, physiological, biochemical, and metabolic processes of maize, resulting in a significant loss in final crop productivity. However, the maize genotypes differ significantly in terms of salinity tolerance. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the impact of different salinity levels (control, 6 dS m-1, 12 dS m-1) on growth, and physio-biochemical traits of different maize hybrids (P-1543, FS -131, SB-9663, YH-1898, FH-1096, SB-794). The results delineated that salt stress (12 dS m-1) considerably increased the time to start germination (TSG), reduced germination index (GI), and final germination percentage (FGP). Moreover, salt stress (12 dS m-1) also reduced root and shoot growth, biomass production, chlorophyll contents, and relative water contents (RWC). Further, current results depicted that salt stress induced an increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) and activities of antioxidants (APX, CAT and POD). Similarly, the maize hybrids also had significant differences in germination, growth and physio-biochemical traits. In comparison, hybrids FH-1096 and YH-1898 required less TSG and had the highest GI and FGP, whereas hybrids P-1543 and FS -131 needed more TSG and had the lowest GI and FGP. Likewise, the maximum chlorophyll, RWC, carotenoid and antioxidant enzymes activities were recorded in hybrid FH-1096. However, minimum chlorophyll, RWC, carotenoid and antioxidant enzymes activities and maximum EL was noticed in hybrids P-1543, FS -131 and SB-9663. Thus, on the basis of these findings, it can be suggested that maize hybrids FH-1096 and YH-1898 can show tolerance under salt stress conditions.