Drought stress is an alarming threat to food security in the climate change scenario. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of strigolactone for drought tolerance in maize seedlings. The treatments consisted of two water regimes, i.e., (1) well-watered, at 80% water holding capacity (WHC) and (2) drought stress, at 40% WHC which were factorally combined with three Strigolactone concentrations (0, 10 and 20 µM) as foliar spray. Results revealed that drought stress diminishes the seedling growth, plant water relations and photosynthetic activities by producing more reactive oxygen species which lead to higher oxidative damage in maize seedlings. Application of strigolactone improved plant growth attributes by improving the gas exchange parameters, water relations and chlorophyll pigments. Application of strigolactone also enhanced the enzymatic antioxidants activities, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in stressed seedlings over control. In conclusion, strigolactone improved the water relations, increased photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters and enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activities to impart drought stress tolerance in maize seedlings. To best of our knowledge, this is the first study on role on strigolactone on drought stress tolerance mechanism in maize seedling.

在气候变化情景中，干旱压力是对粮食安全的惊人威胁。本研究旨在评估独脚金内酯对玉米幼苗耐旱性的潜力。处理由两种水方案组成，即，(1) 充足浇水，80% 持水能力 (WHC) 和 (2) 干旱胁迫，40% WHC，与三个独脚金内酯浓度（0、10 和20 µM) 作为叶面喷雾。结果表明，干旱胁迫通过产生更多的活性氧来降低玉米幼苗的生长、植物水分关系和光合作用活动，从而导致玉米幼苗更高的氧化损伤。独脚金内酯的应用通过改善气体交换参数、水分关系和叶绿素色素来改善植物生长特性。独脚金内酯的应用还增强了酶促抗氧化活性，包括超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶在胁迫幼苗中超过对照。总之，独脚金内酯改善了水分关系，增加了光合色素和气体交换参数，并增强了抗氧化酶活性，从而赋予玉米幼苗耐旱性。据我们所知，这是首次研究独脚金内酯对玉米幼苗干旱胁迫耐受机制的作用。增加光合色素和气体交换参数，增强抗氧化酶活性，赋予玉米幼苗耐旱性。据我们所知，这是首次研究独脚金内酯对玉米幼苗干旱胁迫耐受机制的作用。增加光合色素和气体交换参数，增强抗氧化酶活性，赋予玉米幼苗耐旱性。据我们所知，这是首次研究独脚金内酯对玉米幼苗干旱胁迫耐受机制的作用。