Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Antioxidant Enzymes Content, Soluble Carbohydrates, Chlorophyll Concentration and Yield of Two Sweet Corn Cultivars

In order to study the effect of deficit irrigation on antioxidant enzymes content, soluble carbohydrates, chlorophyll concentration and yield of two sweet corn cultivars a field experiment based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged in factorial with three replications was conducted at the Education-Research Farm (With geographical position: 37°33' north, 59°11' east), Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, during in cropping season 2018-2019. The experimental factors were included at three levels (0 (Full irrigation), 20 and 40% less than the irrigation requirement) and two sweet corn cultivars (Amylapop and Merit). The results showed that with increasing of deficit irrigation (increasing stress) content of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase enzymes and soluble carbohydrates increased. However, concentration of chlorophyll a, b and total, husked cob yield, dehusked cob yield and conservable grain yield decreased. The content of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, husked cob yield, dehusked cob yield and conservable grain yield were higher in Amylapop cultivar than Merit. In general, the results of this research showed that the tested cultivars do not have the necessary stability under conditions. Therefore, applying the method of deficit irrigation in the studied cultivars it will be justified only if a 20 and 40 percent reduction in the amount of water used for this product is more beneficial than the reduction in yield.