Effect of Drought-induced Stress on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Zea mays L.

Background: Drought is one of the major abiotic factors leading to diminishing growth, development and productivity of plants worldwide. Considering that germination is the first phase of growth which in large measure determines plant quality and yield, knowing the effects of different factors on this process is of major importance. This paper studies the effect of drought-induced stress on seed germination and seedling growth of Zea mays L. (the Sweet corn and the hybrid Pioneer B23). Methods: The effect of water stress was caused by different concentrations of mannitol: 5%, 10% and 20%. In the control, we used distilled water. The germination test was performed in three trials of 45 seeds each. The germination percentage, germination potential, drought resistance index were calculated at 3, 5 and 7 days. Growth of seedlings and biomass content were calculate at 14 days.Result: The results show significant differences between the variety and hybrid examined. The pioneer B23 seed germinated in larger number and more quickly. The Sweet corn variety seedling growth was completely absent after treatment with mannitol. The observed difference is certainly not just a consequence of higher mannitol concentrations, but also a difference in the water-retention capability of the variety and hybrid studied.

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Effect of salt stress on some sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) genotypes

Archives of Biological Sciences ◽

10.2298/abs150121062s ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 993-1000 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lydia Shtereva ◽

Roumiana Vassilevska-Ivanova ◽

Tanya Karceva

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Salt Stress ◽

Zea Mays L ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

F1 Hybrid ◽

Salt Stress Condition ◽

Salinity Levels

An experiment was carried out hydroponically under laboratory conditions to investigate the effect of salt stress on several physiological and biochemical parameters of three sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata) genotypes: lines 6-13, C-6 (pollen source) and their heterotic F1 hybrid ?Zaharina?. The degree of salinity tolerance among these genotypes was evaluated at three different sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations: 0 mM, 100 mM, 125 mM and 150 mM. Seed germination, plant growth and biochemical stress determining parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), proline content and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were compared between seedlings of lines and hybrid. The obtained results indicated that both lines and hybrid have similar responses at different salinity levels for all examined traits. All the seedlings? growth parameters, such as germination percentage, root length, shoot length, root and shoot fresh and dry weight, decreased with increasing salinity level. MDA, proline and H2O2 increased at different saline conditions in comparison to the control. Based on the results, of the three genotypes examined, the hybrid Zaharina, followed by line C-6, was more salt-sensitive than line 6-13 in salt stress condition.

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