Diminishing herbicide stress in maize inbred lines by application of foliar fertiliser

Abstract

Dominance of grass weeds in maize crop occurs due to a lack of selective herbicides for their control. With sulphonylurea herbicides this problem became under control, but a problem with selectivity was developed, particularly in maize seed crop. The effect of sulphonylureas and foliar fertiliser on maize lines was evaluated by visual estimation, grain yield, as well as the alterations in the content of antioxidants: free thiolic groups, phenolics and soluble proteins in the leaves. The proteins content did not vary significantly under the influence of herbicides, compared to the control, opposite to free thiolic groups and phenolics. The differences in the content of phenolics and thiolic groups in the treatments with herbicides plus foliar fertiliser indicated that herbicide stress was more rapidly overcome. Most of the genotypes expressed significant increase of grain yield in the treatments with foliar fertiliser, compared to control and analogous treatments with herbicides.