Effect of Drought Stress on Nucleic Acids Content Changes in Maize Varieties

Abstract

The DNA and RNA analysis can be useful to the selection of genotypes containing drought tolerance and good properties in the breeding program. So, this research was carried out on 38 maize (Zea mays L.) varieties to investigate the effect of drought stress on genome structure and its changes in drought tolerant, semi-tolerant and susceptible maize verities. For classifying maize varieties to three groups (drought tolerant, drought semi-tolerant and susceptible groups), seed germination ability was used under artificial water stress condition and in laboratory condition. Artificial water stress was created with sucrose solution at 10 atm. Then, one variety was chosen from each group (drought tolerant, semi-tolerant and susceptible groups). In drought tolerant, semi-tolerant and susceptible maize verities, stabile DNA, labile DNA, residual DNA and RNA were extracted. The results showed that the rate of labile DNA and RNA was increased 22.9 and 48.1%, respectively in tolerant variety under drought stress condition. Whereas in susceptible variety, the rate of those was decreased 35.9 and 17.2% under drought stress condition, respectively.