Evaluation of Maize Hybrids in Terms of Agronomic Traits under Water Deficit Stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Plant Breeding & Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Faculty of Agriculture- University of Tabriz

3 Oil Crops Research Department, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

10.22034/saps.2025.66411.3354

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The study was conducted to evaluate different maize hybrids under water deficit stress conditions in terms of agronomic traits and grain yield and to identify hybrids tolerant to water deficit stress.
 
Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the research fields of the University of Tabriz's Faculty of Agriculture using a split plot experiment, based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots included two different irrigation conditions (normal and water deficit stress) and the sub-plots included 16 different maize hybrids. Stress was applied at the flowering stage.
 
Results: Based on the results, SC703 and SC700 hybrids were recognized as superior hybrids in terms of most agronomic traits and grain yield in all conditions, and in contrast, AR66, SC702 and SC500 hybrids were recognized as water deficit stress-sensitive hybrids with low yield. Cluster analysis also separated the maize hybrids into two separate groups. The SC703 and SC700 hybrids were identified as superior hybrids in terms of the majority of agronomic traits and grain yield under all conditions. Additionally, cluster analysis divided the hybrid maize into two groups. The first group comprised hybrids SC703, SC260, K3647×K18, and SC700, which were introduced as tolerant hybrids and were superior to the average of all traits. The second group consisted of hybrids SC704, KSC705, SC706, SC702, SC670, SC647, SC604, DC370, SC500, SC400, K18, K166×, and AR66, which were less valuable in terms of most traits. 
 
Conclusion: The imposed water deficit stress during the flowering stage significantly reduces all agronomic traits, particularly grain yield. The assessed maize hybrids differ significantly in their ability to withstand water deficit stress. While SC702 and AR66, SC500 hybrids demonstrated the lowest grain yield under average of irrigation condition, SC703 and SC700 hybrids had the highest grain yield under both normal irrigation and water deficit stress condition. Thus, it is advised to plant SC703 and SC700 hybrids in regions that are under stress from water deficit.
 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Ahmadi G, Zienaly Khaneghan H, Rostamy MA and Choghan R. 2000. The Study of Drought Tolerance Indices and Biplot Method in Eight Corn Hybrids. Iranian Journal of Agriculture Science, 31(3):513-523. (In Persian with English Abstract).
Ahuja I, de Vos RC, Bones AM and Hall RD. 2010. Plant molecular stress responses face climate change. Trends in Plant Science, 15(12): 664-674. DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2010.08.002
Amawate JS and Behl PN. 1995. Genetic analysis of some quantitative components of yield in bread wheat. Indian Journal of Genetic Plant Breeding, 55: 120-125.
Arunachalam V and Bandyopadhyay A. 1984. A method to make decisions jointly on a number of dependent characters. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 44(3):419-424.
Bates LS, Waldren RP and Teare ID. 1973. Rapid determination of free proline for water stress studies. Plant and Soil, 39: 205-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018060
Chapman SC and GO Edmeads. 1999. Selection improves drought tolerance in tropical maize population: II. Direct and correlated responses among secondary traits. Crop Science, 39: 1315-1324.  https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1999.3951315x
Chugh V, Kaur N and Gupta AK. 2011. Evaluation of oxidative stress tolerance in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings in response to drought. Indian Journal of Biochemestery Biophysics, 48(1):47-53.
Daryanto S, Wang L and Jacinthe PA. 2017. Global synthesis of drought effects on cereal, legume, tuber and root crops production: A review. Agricultural Water Management, 179: 18-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.04.022
Deribe H. 2024. Review on Effects of Drought Stress on Maize Growth, Yield and Its Management Strategies. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 56(1), 123–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2024.2404663
FAO. 2023. Agriculture Statistics, FAOSTAT, United Nation Organization.
Fernandez GCJ. 1992. Effective Selection Criteria for Assessing Stress Tolerance. In: Kuo CG.  Proceedings of the International Symposium on Adaptation of Vegetables and Other Food Crops in Temperature and Water Stress, AVRDC Publication, Tainan, Pp.257-270.
Fischer RA and Maurer R. 1978. Drought resistance in spring wheat cultivars. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 29: 897-912.
Gubis J, Vankova R, Cervena V, Dragunova, M, Hudcovicova M, Lichtnerova H, Dokupil T and Jurekova Z. 2007. Transformed tobacco plants with increased tolerance to drought. South African Journal of Botany, 73: 505-511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2007.03.011
Ingram J. 2011. A food systems approach to researching food security and its interactions with global environmental change. Food Security, 3(4): 417-431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-011-0149-9
Kajla M, Yadav VK, Khokhar J, Singh S, Chhokar R, Meena RP and Sharma R. 2015. Increase in wheat production through management of abiotic stresses: a review. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 7(2): 1070-1080.
Khayatnezhad M, Gholamin R, Jamaati-e-Somarin S and Zabihi-e-Mahmoodabad R. 2010. Investigation and selection drought indexes stress for corn genotypes. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Environmental Sciences, 9: 22-26.
Mir RR, Zaman-Allah M, Sreenivasulu N, Trethowan R. and Varshney RK. 2012. Integrated genomics, physiology and breeding approaches for improving drought tolerance in crops. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 125(4): 625-645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1904-9
Poudel R. 2023. Effects of drought stress on growth and yield parameters of Zea mays—a comprehensive review. Agribusiness Management in Developing Nations, 1(2):67-70. https://doi.org/10.26480/amdn.02.2023.67.70
Oneill PM, Shanahan JF and Schepers JS. 2006. Use of chlorophyll fluorescence assessments to differentiate corn hybrid response to variable water conditions. Crop Science, 46: 681-687. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2005.06-0170
Osborn SL, Schepper JS, Francis DD and Schlemmer MR. 2002.Use of spectral radiance to estimate in-season biomass and grain yield in nitrogen-and water-stressed corn. Crop Science, 42: 163-171. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2002.1650
Osmanzai M, Rajaram S and Knapp EB. 1987. Breeding for moisture-stressed areas in: Srivasta, J.P., Porceddu, E., Acevedo, E. and Varma, S. (eds.), Drought tolerance in winter cereals. John Wiley and Sons. New York. pp: 151-161.
Pecetti L, Annicchiarico P and Kashour G. 1993. Flag leaf variation in Mediterranean durum wheat landraces and its relationship to frost and drought tolerance and yield response in moderately favorable conditions, Plant Genetics Research, 93: 25-28.
Pinheiro C and Chaves M. 2011. Photosynthesis and drought: can we make metabolic connections from available data? Journal of Experimental Botany, 62(3): 869-882. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erq340
Richards R, Lopez A, Castaneda C, Gomez-Macpherson H and Condon AG. 1993. Improving the efficiency of water use by plant breeding and molecular biology. Irrigation Science, 14: 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00208402
Rosielle AA and Hamblin J. 1981. Theoretical aspects of selection for yield in stress and non-stress environments. Crop science, 21: 943-946.
https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1981.0011183X002100060033x
Yan W and Kang MS. 2003. GGE biplot analysis: a graphical tool for breeders, geneticists and agronomists. 1st edition, CRC press, Boca Roton, Florida.
Yang S, Vanderbeld B, Wan J and Huang Y. 2010. Narrowing down the targets: towards successful genetic engineering of drought-tolerant crops. Molecular Plant, 3(3): 469-490.
https://doi.org/10.1093/mp/ssq016
Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Volume 35, Issue 3
2025
Pages 301-315

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics