Abstract
This study seeks to evaluate the response of 17 yellow Quality Protein Maize (QPM) inbred line seedlings to drought stress (DS), using different morphophysiological traits (plant height (PH), chlorophyll content (CC), stem diameter (SD), proline content (Pro), photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PS II), canopy temperature (CT) and substomatal carbon dioxide concentration (Ci). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times in a growth chamber. The seedlings were exposed to DS treatment by growing them at 20% field capacity. The control/well-watered (WW) treatments were kept at 80% field capacity throughout the experiment. Highly significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed for PH, SD, and Pro across environments. On the other hand, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for CC and PS II, while DS had no significant effects on Ci and CT. Proline content increased under DS compared to WW conditions. Inbred lines L34, L7, L5, L2, L16, and L6 had approximately equal or more Pro than the drought tolerant check (ZM1523). As such, these lines were regarded as drought tolerant. Taking all measured parameters into consideration, L7 performed notably better than the other inbred lines under DS.
Highlights
Quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) has almost double the quantities of amino acids lysine and tryptophan when compared to normal maize [1]
Despite all the nutritional benefits associated with QPM, very little progress has been made towards breeding for tolerance to abiotic stress factors in QPM varieties [5]
Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among inbred lines for chlorophyll content (CC) and photosystem II (PS II), while there were no significant differences for Ci and canopy temperature (CT) across the environments
Summary
Quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) has almost double the quantities of amino acids lysine and tryptophan when compared to normal maize [1]. In comparison to white maize, yellow maize contains a significant amount of carotenoids, making it a good source of Vitamin A [2]. Due to its nutritional value, yellow QPM can be used as a protein and Vitamin A source for most poor people living in third world countries where maize is the staple food. QPM can be an economically valuable substitute for normal maize in stock feeds as it requires little or no supplementary protein source to balance feeds [4]. Despite all the nutritional benefits associated with QPM, very little progress has been made towards breeding for tolerance to abiotic stress factors in QPM varieties [5]
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