Shweta Pandey, R.K. Yadav, Kadambari Tiwari and Ravindra Kumar
Abstract
The investigation entitled âImpact of Putrescine and IAA in improving physico-biochemical parameters and yield attributes on maize (Zea mays L.)â was conducted during the Kharif season, 2024-25 at the Student Instructional Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya-224229 (U.P.). The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with three replications and seven treatments. The treatment was comprised of foliar spray of Putrescine (Put) and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) along with control, viz., (T1) control, (T2) Put @80 ppm, (T3) Put @100 ppm, (T4) Put @120 ppm, (T5) IAA @80 ppm, (T6) IAA@100 ppm, and (T7) IAA@120 ppm concentrations were used in experimentation. Plant hormones were foliar applied at 30DAS. Observations were recorded at 45DAS, 65DAS and at physiological maturity. The observations have been taken on morpho-physiological, biochemical, yield and yield attributes of maize. The treatments were comprised of a control in distilled water. However, yield and yield attributes were taken at the time of harvesting of the crop. Foliar spray of IAA@120 ppm increased plant height, number of leaves plant-1 leaf area, dry weight per plant (g), and relative water content (%). The biochemical parameters, i.e., total chlorophyll contents, catalase activity, peroxidase activity, protein (%) in leaves, nitrate reductase activity, were also highest with foliar application of IAA@120 ppm. Whereas, yield attributes viz., number of cobs per plant, cob length, number of seeds per cob,100-seeds weight, total grain yield (kg plant -1), straw yield and grain yield were recorded as superior with foliar spray of IAA @120 ppm. However, harvest index was found to be non-significant. Hence, it is concluded from the results that 120 ppm IAA was found to be most effective in increasing all characters and yield attributes in this study.