α-Tocopherol Foliar Spray and Translocation Mediates Growth, Photosynthetic Pigments, Nutrient Uptake, and Oxidative Defense in Maize (Zea mays L.) under Drought Stress

A pot experiment was conducted to assess the induction of drought tolerance in maize by foliar-applied α-tocopherol at early growth stage. Experiment was comprised two maize cultivars (Agaiti-2002 and EV-1098), two water stress levels (70% and 100% field capacity), and two α-tocopherol levels (0 mmol and 50 mmol) as foliar spray. Experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design in factorial arrangement with three replications of each treatment. α-tocopherol was applied foliary at the early vegetative stage. Water stress reduced the growth of maize plants with an increase in lipid peroxidation in both maize cultivars. Contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants and activities of antioxidant enzymes increased in studied plant parts under drought, while the nutrient uptake was decreased. Foliary-applied α-tocopherol improved the growth of both maize cultivars, associated with improvements in photosynthetic pigment, water relations, antioxidative mechanism, and better nutrient acquisition in root and shoot along with tocopherol contents and a decrease in lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the increase of tocopherol levels in roots after α-Toc foliar application confers its basipetal translocation. In conclusion, the findings confer the role of foliar-applied α-tocopherol in the induction of drought tolerance of maize associated with tissue specific improvements in antioxidative defense mechanism through its translocation.