Photosynthetic and bioluminescence properties of maize inbred lines with upright leaves

Abstract

The initial idea of this paper was a hypothesis that upright leaves of maize inbred lines were characteristic for an efficient photosynthetic model and that as such were very desirable in increasing the number of plants per area unit (plant density) in the process of contemporary breeding and seed production. The application of a semi in vivo photosynthetic bioluminescence method (leaf segment is still alive and all process are active), suitable for the efficiency estimation of the model, verified the hypothesis. Obtained photosynthetic properties of observed upright leaves of maize inbred lines were based on the effect and photosynthetic characteristics of thermal processes of delayed chlorophyll fluorescence (DF) occurring in their thylakoid membranes. The temperature dependence of the delayed chlorophyll fluorescence intensity, phase transition (critical temperatures) and activation energy are the principal photosynthetic parameters of the thermal processes in the thylakoid membrane. Based on obtained photosynthetic and bioluminescence properties it is possible to select maize inbred lines having upright leaves that are resistant and tolerant to high and very high temperatures, as well as to drought. The selected maize inbred lines could be considered as the efficient photosynthetic model and as such could be used in the improvement of the contemporary maize breeding and seed production.