Study of various parameters of maize (Zea mays L.) grown at different doses of heavy metals
2015
Gill, B.R.
Three maize genotypes (Agati-85, MMRI yellow, Pearl) were evaluated for seedling and maturity traits in the research area of the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the leading cereal crop in the world and Pakistan after wheat and rice. Maize has highly nutritive value as it contains starch, protein, oil, sugar, fiber and ash. Biofuel ethanol is also extracted from maize plant. Heavy metals contamination effects the growth and production of maize in multiple ways and also inhibits the physiological process, such as disturbance in plant ion, water balance and protein metabolism interference. This research experiment was conducted to determine the toxic effects of heavy metals at different growth stages and grain yield. Fifteen days old seedlings were exposed to heavy metals Cd and Cr individually and in combination (Cd+Cr). The treated plants were harvested to evaluate the effect of heavy metals on grain yield and various morphological traits in maize. Data were recorded and statistically analyzed to assess the differences in heavy metals uptake in grain and other various morphological parameters in Zea mays. Analysis of variance, correlation and path analysis studies were performed to determine the selection criteria for future breeding program. For both seedling and maturity traits significant differences were present among the treatments, genotypes and treatment x genotype interaction. For maturity traits high performance was shown by Agati-85, while pearl showed lowest performance.
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