Effect of alpha lipoic acid pre-treatment on drought tolerance in drought-sensitive and drought-resistant maize genotypes

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) pre-treatment has been applied to two different genotypes of (Akpınar and Helen) maize (Zea mays L.) plant which were exposed to drought stress. Leaf relative water content, dry weight, leaf water potential, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide content (H2O2), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalaz (CAT), süperoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehidroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities have been spectrophotomecticly investigated. After the analysis it has been determined that drought stress increased lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide content, SOD, GPX, APX and GR activities and decreased leaf water potential, relative water content and leaf dry weight. It has been determined that ALA pre-treatnent averted increase of lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide content, induced SOD GPX, MDHAR and GR activities, and retarted to decrease of leaf water potential, relative water content and leaf dry weight under drought stres. It has been concluded that negative effect of drought stress can be alleviated by ALA pre-treatment.