Morpho-physiological changes in maize seedling sunder osmotic stress

Abstract

Drought is a major abiotic stress factor limiting crop growth, development and production worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate tolerance to osmotic stress of maize seedlings. More than 6,000 accessions from the Maize Research Institute gene bank were tested under controlled drought (at flowering) in Egypt, and afterwards in temperate climate (Serbia and Macedonia). Out of 41 drought tolerant accessions in the field, five inbred lines were chosen for laboratory testing, as well as one drought sensitive line. These genotypes were exposed to 4% polyethylene glycol-PEG (Mr 10000) for 24 h and 48 h. Nine-day-old seedlings compared to control conditions were analyzed in root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight and proline content. Results showed reduction in all parameters under stress, while only proline content increased in all PEG treated genotypes compared to control.

Suša je glavni abiotički stres koji ograničava porast, razvoj i produktivnost useva širom sveta. Cilj ovog rada bio je ocena tolerantnosti klijanaca kukuruza na osmotski stres. Više od 6.000 uzoraka banke gena Instituta za kukuruz testirano je u uslovima kontrolisanog stresa suše (faza cvetanja) u Egiptu, a posle toga u umerenom klimatu (Srbija i Makedonija). Od 41 uzorka tolerantnog na sušu u poljskim uslovima, odabrano je pet linija, kao i jedna osetljiva na sušu, za testiranje u laboratoriji. Ovi genotipovi su izloženi 4% polietilen glikolu (PEG, Mr 10000) u trajanju od 24 h i 48 h. Odgovor klijanaca izloženih stresu (starih 9 dana) u odnosu na kontrolu, analiziran je kroz porast korena i izdanka, svežu i suvu masu i sadržaj prolina. Rezultati su pokazali smanjenje svih parametara u uslovima stresa, dok je jedino sadržaj prolina bio u porastu kod svih ispitivanih genotipova pod uticajem PEG-a u odnosu na kontrolu.