Effects of Thiourea, Thiamine and Ascorbic Acid on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Three chemicals, viz., thiourea, thiamine and ascorbic acid capable of potentiating-SH turnover, were tested with the objective to improve growth and productivity of maize. Thiourea was tested as seed-soaking and foliar-applied treatments as also in combination. Thiamine and ascorbic acid were tested as foliar sprays alone. Foliar treatments were applied at vegetative stage (30 and 45 days after sowing).The results of the field experiment showed that seed soaking with thiourea (500 ppm) tended to improve grain yield (13.4 per cent over control), but improvement in biological yield was significant. However, seed soaking plus foliar treatment of thiourea significantly increased both biological and grain yields, besides causing significant improvement in leaf area index and number of green leaves plant"^ The increase in grain yield ha"' was of the order of 34.6 per cent over control.It was further noted that foliar sprays of thiourea (1000 ppm), thiamine (100 ppm) and ascorbic acid (100 ppm) significantly increased leaf area index, number of green leaves plant"^ and biological yield ha~'. These treatments also significantly increased grain yield ha*' by 40.6, 20.2 and 26.3 per cent, respectively over control. Improvement in maize yield with thiourea, thiamine and ascorbic acid treatments appeared to have resulted from increased photosynthetic efficiency and canopy photosynthesis on account of the biological activity of -SH group. It was also apparent that leaf senescence was delayed under the influence of these chemicals. It is therefore suggested that thiourea, thiamine and ascorbic acid are the potential bioregulators for improving photosynthetic efficiency and grain yield of maize and possibly other cereals, and that thiourea, a sulphydryl compound, holds considerable promise in this context.

Promotive effect of exogenously applied thiourea on key physiological parametersand oxidative defense mechanism in salt-stressed Zea mays L. plants

“…In the current study, F v / F m of both maize cultivars increased due to exogenously applied TU under saline conditions, which is parallel to the findings of Pandey et al (2013), who documented improved chlorophyll fluorescence in salt stressed Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) plants due to exogenously applied TU and they attributed this growth improvement to TU-induced high efficiency of PSI and PSII. About two decades ago, Sahu et al (1993) observed that exogenously applied TU enhanced the photosynthetically active leaf area as well as the rate of photosynthesis in maize plants, which was ascribed to TU-induced improvement in the efficiency of photosystems. To date, a number of experiments have been carried out on TU-induced changes/improvement in the rate of photosynthesis under stress in different crops, e.g.…”

“…To date, a number of experiments have been carried out on TU-induced changes/improvement in the rate of photosynthesis under stress in different crops, e.g. clusterbean (Burman et al, 2004), wheat (Nathawat et al, 2007), and maize (Sahu et al, 1993), but the role of TU in efficiency of photosystems has not been well researched. It is well known that the efficiency of photosystems and rate of photosynthesis are closely interlinked (Misra et al, 2006;Geissler et al, 2009;Ashraf and Harris, 2013), but the information on TUinduced changes in the photosynthesis linked to either PSI or PSII still needs to be elucidated.…”

Response of Thiourea Application on Dehydrogenase Activity in Soil, Yield and Oil Content of Niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.] under Rainfed Conditions of Bastar Plateau Zone

“…The enhancement in harvest index of niger may be due to better dry matter partitioning as reported by Parihar et al, (1988), Sahu et al, (1993) and Sharma (2002). Table.2 Effect of thiourea on oil content of niger and Dehydrogenase activity in soil…”

“…The increase in yield due to thiourea application is a clear reflection of increase in growth and yield attributes. The yield increase by the application thiourea may due to the beneficial effect of thiourea on seed germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll content, protein content, biomasss production and better dry matter partitioning as reported by Parihar et al, 1988;Sahu et al, 1993 andSharma, 2002. In sulphur containing amino acids, there is a breakdown of SH group into S and H under stress situations.…”

Response of Lentil to Thiourea Application under Rain Fed Conditions of Central India

“…Thiourea is a sulphahydral compound and help to improve productivity and its role as a drought tolerant is well established under the arid and semi-arid regions (Sahu et al, 1993).Thiourea have 42% sulphur and 36 % of nitrogen. Thus, it behaves in physiology of plants both as a sulphahydryl compound and as an amino compound like urea (Garg et al, 2006).…”