01956naa a2200253 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902400420006010000190010224501090012126000090023052012360023965000170147565000110149265000100150365300200151365300220153365300180155570000210157370000140159470000200160870000210162877300530164921165122019-12-10       2020    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d7 a10.4025/actasciagron.v42i1.424632DOI1 aALMEIDA, L. G.  aChitosan application in the induction of water deficit tolerance in maize plants.h[electronic resource]  c2020  aThe present research seeks to elucidate the feasibility of chitosan (CHT) in the induction of water deficit tolerance in different maize hybrids, contrasting tolerance to water restriction, tolerance and sensitivity. The maize plants were subjected to water deficit and foliar application of different chitosan doses (60, 100, 140, and 180 mg L-1) at the pre-flowering growth stage and evaluated during the stress period of fifteen days. To understand the induction behaviour of the tolerance to water restriction, biophysical parameters, such as water potential, relative water content and chlorophyll content, gas exchange, and biochemical assays, were quantified based on the activity of SOD, CAT, APX, and PAL antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation activity and hydrogen peroxide content. Among the treatments, maize plants subjected to chitosan foliar application at a dose of 140 mg L-1 presented similar behavioural responses to plants under favourable irrigation conditions. Such positive responses are related to the high degree of activity of antioxidant enzymes, gas exchange and low levels of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide. The results support the potential use of CHT to increase tolerance to water stress.  aAntioxidante  aEnzima  aMilho  aAntiperspirante  aEstresse hídrico  aTroca de gás1 aMAGALHAES, P. C.1 aKARAM, D.1 aSILVA, E. M. da1 aALVARENGA, A. A.  tActa Scientiarum. Agronomygv. 42, e42463, 2020.