Effect of Vitamin C on Maize Seedling Growth under Drought Stress

[Objective] The reference for the application of vitamin C in maize growth was provided through the research on the resistance-strengthening of maize plant to drought under the treatment of vitamin C.[Method] The maize seedling under drought stress was treated with different concentrations of vitamin C and the morphological indicator of maize seedling(leaf length,plant height,fresh weight,dry weight and content of relative water) and the physiological indicators[content of chlorophyll and activity of peroxidase(POD) and superoxide dismutase(SOD)] were tested.[Results] All kinds of indicators of maize seedling could be significant impacted by the treatment of vitamin C.At the concentration of 40 mg/L,the effect was obvious and the morphological indicators such as leaf shape length,plant height,fresh weight,dry weight and content of relative water were 4.6%,12.9%,20.8%,20.0% and 20.3% more than that of the control group,respectively;and the physiological indicators including the content of chlorophyll and the activity of POD and SOD were 75.6%,24.6% and 23.4% higher than that of the control group,respectively.[Conclusion] The treatment of vitamin C could increase the moisture content in plants;to some extent,regulate the enzyme activity;played a role in the protection of the cell membrane and improve the resistance of maize plant to drought.