Oxidative stress and antioxidant metabolic enzymes response of maize (zea mays l.) seedlings to a biotic stress (Alachlor) condition

In the present investigations, an endeavor was been made to appraise the alachlor efficiency on biochemical behavior of maize seedlings. Biochemical parameters significantly influenced by different doses alachlor application. The total starch, catalase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase content were significantly enhanced by ~ 53, 28, 85 34 and 31, 17, 26, 81% with 4, 8, 12 and 15 days old maize seedlings in both root shoot axis and endosperm respectively compared control ~ 44, 25, 37, 33 and 38, 33, 10, 77% in root shoot axis and endosperm respectively. Whereas, the reducing sugar and α-amylase content was decreased ~ 80, 91 and 61, 18% in both root shoot and endosperm from 4 to 15 days old maize seedlings, respectively compared to control. The results showed that the higher concentration of herbicide adversely affects the biochemical parameters, which are associated with seed germination and seedling growth of maize.