PJB-2025-1529
Exploring the efficacy of various ascorbic acid dosages and application methods in alleviating drought stress in sunflower cultivation
Bushra Saeed, Muhammad Zafar-Ul-Hye, Natasha Malik, Sajid Masood and Yasir Iftikhar
DOI:10.30848/PJB2025-3(39)
Abstract
Drought stress is one of the devastating limitations for crop production in dry land regions. Application of exogenous molecules such as ascorbic acid (AsA) can mitigate drought stress on crop plants. However, optimum dose and proper application method of AsA have not been properly investigated so far. Apot experiment in the greenhouse was conducted to investigate the efficacy of seed soaking and foliar spray methods of ascorbic acid (AsA) on sunflower under normal irrigation and drought stress. The treatments included control, 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, and 1.5 mM AsA by foliar spray, respectively, and 0.5mM, 1.0mM, and 1.5mM AsA by seed soaking, respectively. Treatments 1.5 mM AsA by foliar sprayhad the highest percentage increase in shoot fresh weight (104.5%), root fresh weight (138.72%), seed yield/plant (128.8%), nitrogen concentration (57.7%) and chlorophyll contents (28.3%) compared to control. Overall, the study suggests that the foliar application of AsA at a concentration of 1.5mM is a promising approach to enhance sunflower growth and yield attributes under both normal and drought stress conditions. This finding may have significant implications for farmers and agricultural practices, as it provides a potential solution to mitigate the negative effects of water stress on crop productivity
To Cite this article:
Saeed, B., M. Zafar-Ul-Hye, N. Malik, S. Masood and Y. Iftikhar. 2025. Exploring the efficacy of various ascorbic acid dosages and application methods in alleviating drought stress in sunflower cultivation. Pak. J. Bot., 57(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-3(39)
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