Selection and characterization of maize genotypes for water stress (drought) tolerance
2003
Aini Waznati L. | Mohd. Ridzuan M. N. | Zakaria W.
Drought like many other environmental stresses has adverse effects on crop yield especially in maize. Low water availability is one of the major causes for crop yield reductions affecting the majority of the farmed regions. Water stress will cause stresses in nutrient uptake, oxygen, pest and disease and mechanical impedance. A study was conducted on four maize inbred lines, which are G7-6, E5-5, E5-9 and UPM B. The study was arranged using a Randomized Complete Design with five replications. Two treatment were applied, water stress and well watered a control. The main purpose of this study was to differentiate the responses of four maize inbreds when water stress was given in order to identify the inbred that has a potential resistant to drought condition. Characterization and selection for the inbreds were based on morphological (rood, leaf, stem, etc.) and physiological (photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, stomatal conductance, nutrient uptake, etc.) responses to water stress. The results showed that, E5-5 has failed to overcome the stress given and died. Meanwhile, G7-6 and E5-9 managed to survive and been compared. Both inbreds were harvested at taselling stage. UPM B also managed to survive until reproductive stage and the results were collected as extended data. As a conclusion, G7-6, E5-9 and UPM B have shown their responses to water stress treatment, but E5-9 is the most potential inbred because of its capability to tolerate water stress. Screening on the other 8 inbread lines randomly also has been done in the same location showed positive results to drought tolerance. A number of parameters are recorded for further study.
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