Abstract
Research is imperative to predict seed vigor of hybrid maize production under water deficit in arid areas. Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 in arid areas of northwestern China to investigate the effects of different irrigation strategies at various growth stages with drip irrigation under film mulching on grain yield, kernel weight, seed protein content, and seed vigor of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). Water deficit at vegetative, flowering, and grain-filling stages was considered and a total of 16 irrigation treatments was applied. A total of 12 indices of germination percentage, germination index (GI), shoot length (SL), and root length (RL) under different germination conditions (standard germination and accelerated aging); electrical conductivity (EC) of the leachate; and activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in seeds were measured and analyzed using the combinational evaluation method (CEM). Furthermore, five water production functions (Blank, Stewart, Rao, Jensen, and Minhas) were used to predict seed vigor evaluated by CEM under water deficit. The results showed that leachate EC was higher under water deficit than that under sufficient irrigation. The SL, RL, and GI of different germination conditions increased under water deficit at the flowering stage. The Rao model was considered the best fitted model to predict the vigor of hybrid maize seeds under water deficit, and an appropriate water deficit at the flowering stage is recommended to ensure high seed vigor of hybrid maize production with drip irrigation under film mulching. Our findings would be useful for reducing crop water use while ensuring seed vigor for hybrid maize production in arid areas.
Highlights
Hybrid maize was commercially grown for the first time in the early 1930s in the United States [1].Hybrid maize lines show increased yield and disease resistance compared with parental lines, and over95% of the corn-growing regions worldwide cultivate hybrid maize varieties [2]
The Rao model showed that water deficit at the grain-filling and vegetative stages reduced seed vigor, and seed vigor was more sensitive to water deficit at the grain-filling (C3 = 0.916) than at the vegetative stage (C1 = 0.772), whereas water deficit at the flowering stage increased seed vigor (C2 = −0.343)
The multiplicative models are more study assessed the vigorthe ofRao hybrid maize seeds that were producedseed under water physiologically
Summary
Hybrid maize was commercially grown for the first time in the early 1930s in the United States [1].Hybrid maize lines show increased yield and disease resistance compared with parental lines, and over95% of the corn-growing regions worldwide cultivate hybrid maize varieties [2]. Hybrid maize was commercially grown for the first time in the early 1930s in the United States [1]. Hybrid maize lines show increased yield and disease resistance compared with parental lines, and over. 95% of the corn-growing regions worldwide cultivate hybrid maize varieties [2]. With the expansion of the area under cultivation of this crop, the production of hybrid maize seeds has rapidly increased globally. Hybrid maize seed production requires suitable environmental conditions, such as temperature and moisture, as well as technical and professional expertise for industrial production [3]. Over 60% of the total hybrid maize seed production in the world occurs in China (23%), India (15%), the United States (9%), Brazil (5%), Mexico (5%), and Argentina (4%) [4]. High seed vigor significantly increases grain yield [6]. Seed vigor tests are divided into physiological methods, which measure germination characteristics, and biochemical methods, which measure specific biochemical reactions
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