Effects of Water Deficit on Dry Matter Accumulation, WUE and Physiological Indexes of Maize

Abstract

Under the conditions of glassy sunlight greenhouse,in this paper the effects of water deficit in varying degrees and irrigation on dry matter accumulation,root activity,water use efficiency(WUE),proline content and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity of maize are studied by carrying out the potted plant experiments.The results reveal that water deficit restricts obviously the plant growth,leaf area expansion and dry matter accumulation of maize,and the restriction degree is closely related to the water deficit degree.After irrigated,the stem height and leaf area of maize are obviously compensated.With the increase of degree of water deficit,the root/crown ratio and the root activity of maize are increased to some extent except that under severe water deficit,water use efficiency is correspondingly is decreased,proline content is remarkably increased,but the superoxide dismutase activity is increased at first,and then decreased.After irrigated,the water use efficiency is higher than that in the contrast plot,and other indexes are all lower except the superoxide dismutase activity is slightly higher than that in the contrast plot.