Effect of micronutrients on carbohydrate metabolism and grain quality in sweet corn (Zea mays L.)
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Punjab Agricultural University
Abstract
The present research was performed to study the ―Effect of micronutrients on carbohydrate metabolism and grain quality in sweet corn (Zea mays L.)‖. The investigations were carried out in two experiments. The first experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions and second one is field experiment. In the laboratory experiment, seeds of sweet corn were soaked in different concentration of micronutrients and allowed to germinate according to cigar roll method. Total twenty treatments were given with different combinations of iron sulphate, zinc sulphate and manganese sulphate. The observations on physiological and biochemical parameters of seedling were recorded after seven days of treatment. All the seed treatments with micronutrients significantly improved vigour parameters with respect to control. Percent germination, shoot length, root length and vigour index was higher in seeds treated with T9 (0.2% FeSO4 and 0.5% ZnSO4) and T7 (0.2% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4). The biochemical parameters viz. total soluble sugars, starch content and amylase activity was enhanced maximally by the T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4), followed by T9 (0.2% FeSO4 and 0.5% ZnSO4), T8 (0.5% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4) and T10 (0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4 micronutrient treatments. In Field experiment, for morpho-physiological parameters, data was collected after 30DAS, 60DAS and 90 DAS in year 2020 and 2021. Foliar spray of micronutrient treatments enhanced vegetative and reproductive growth parameters. Increased plant height, leaf area index, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio, specific leaf weight, specific leaf area, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate were observed after foliar spray with micronutrients. Maximum increase was recorded in T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) followed by T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4) and T8 (0.5% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4). Cob length, cob girth, grain weight and grain yield, it was observed that higher increase was recorded in treatment T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) and T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4). Biochemical estimations in grains exhibited strong correlation among micronutrients and grain quality. Among biochemical parameters, T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) and T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4), increased chl a, chl b, carotenoids, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content along with higher sucrose synthase and sucrose-6-phosphate synthase activities as compared to other treatments and control. Total soluble sugars, total starch content, and free amino acids were significantly higher in T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4), followed by T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4). Total soluble proteins, proline content and free amino acids were maximum in treatment T8 (0.5% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4), followed by T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4) and T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4). Overall, T9 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4), followed by T7 (0.2% FeSO4 + 0.2% ZnSO4) and T8(0.5% FeSO4 and 0.2% ZnSO4) recorded better results as compared to other micronutrient treatments for improving growth, yield and grain quality in sweet corn. Seed treatment with T20 (0.5% FeSO4, 0.5% ZnSO4 and 0.5% MnSO4) and T19 (0.2% FeSO4, 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.2% MnSO4) recorded less improvement in growth than other treatments as compared to control.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Harmanjot Kaur (2023). Effect of micronutrients on carbohydrate metabolism and grain quality in sweet corn (Zea mays L.) (Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.