Studies on response of maize genotypes against PEG–6000 for various effects under drought stress

Abstract

Drought is one of the most serious problems posing a grave threat to cereal production, including maize. The present study was conducted in the laboratory of the division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura. Ten genotypes of maize were evaluated comprising of released composites in white and yellow group along with derived lines from crosses of GM-6, a drought tolerant composite. The present investigation was performed under artificially imposed drought stress by PEG-6000 at four levels of drought treatment {distilled water (0), 10, 15 and 20 per cent}. Results indicated significant differences among the genotypes and drought stress levels. Further, the results indicated that significant decrease was observed in primary root length, root biomass, seminal root number and lateral root number. Based on the results, genotypes KDM-111 followed by SMC-3 and DT-1 exhibited lesser reduction in total root length and KG-2 followed by SMC-3 and SMC-4 in root weight, GM-6 followed by KDM-111 and KG-2 in number of seminals and GM-6 followed by KDM-111 and C-15 in number of laterals. Hence, there was a progressive decline in all the parameters across all genotypes with an increase in PEG concentration from 0–20 per cent level, respectively.