Exogenous Vinegar Application to Enhance Morphological and Biochemical Responses of Maize under Drought Stress

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KSU TARIM VE DOGA DERGISI-KSU JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURE, cilt.29, sa.6, ss.0-1524, 2026 (ESCI, TRDizin)

Özet

Maize (Zea mays L.) indicates strong vulnerability to drought conditions, particularly during early vegetative stages, which severely limits plant development and yield potential. This study investigated the effects of commercial apple vinegar (5% acetic acid) on morphological and biochemical responses and evaluated its potential as a biostimulant under drought conditions. Conducted under controlled growth chamber conditions, two maize cultivars (Pi0937 and DKC6050) were grown under adequate irrigation (80% FC) and severe drought (40% FC), with apple vinegar applied via foliar (FAV) and soil (SAV) methods at a 1:40 (v v-1) dilution during the V4–V6 and V6–V8 growth stages at one-week intervals. Morphological traits such as plant height, root length, leaf area, and biomass, together with total protein levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD), were evaluated. The results demonstrated that FAV application significantly enhanced plant height, root length, and biomass under drought, while Pi0937 exhibited higher biomass and root development compared to DKC6050, indicating greater drought tolerance. Moreover, apple vinegar application enhanced total protein accumulation and significantly promoted the activities of SOD, CAT, and POD, contributing to improved detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The stronger antioxidant response of Pi0937 highlights the role of genotype-specific differences in drought resilience. Overall, commercial apple vinegar application, particularly via foliar spraying (FAV), emerged as a low-cost, readily available, and environmentally sustainable biostimulant that effectively enhanced growth and physiological resilience of maize under drought stress, with the Pi0937 genotype showing a notably stronger and more consistent response than DKC6050, highlighting the genotype-dependent nature of vinegar-mediated drought tolerance.