Variability examination of photosynthetic pigment content and specific leaf area in individual maize (Zea mays L.) plants

Attila Simkó,Szilvia Veres

doi:10.34101/actaagrar/74/1681

Abstract

Currently, maize is one of the most important crops (Zea mays L.) both globally and in Hungary. We compared physiological parameters of a maize genotype – p9903 – at two different experimental sites in a field experiment. Furthermore, we examined these parameters’ variability in individual plants on the leaves with different ages. Absolute chlorophyll content of the leaves were analysed, separately that of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. We also measured the absolute carotenoid contents of leaves. Furthermore, we calculated these photosynthetic pigments’ content ratio. Specific leaf area (SLA) and dry matter weight were also measured in order to characterise plant production. The results obviously reflect the decreasing in the efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus on the low yield site. Otherwise, we identify significant differences only in certain cases of leaves.

Highlights

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops both globally and in Hungary
Salt and heat stress induced a decreasing of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b content but it induced an increasing of carotenoid content (Aliu et al 2015, Yüzbaşioğlu et al 2017)
According to our comparison of photosynthetic pigment contents significant differences was observed in the case of the under-cob leaves except for carotenoid content Figure 2

Summary

Introduction

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops both globally and in Hungary. The usage of the precision technologies gives an opportunity to reduce the negative effects of environmental stresses. Precise, in vivo determination of photosynthetic pigments is increasingly the base of the appropriate crop management. The precise determination of the photosynthetic pigment is the base of the relative chlorophyll metres. The environmental stress factors influenced the contents of photosynthetic pigments. Different nutrients affect differently the leaves photosynthetic pigment contents. Taban and Alpasaln (1996) revealed that the zinc concentration causes a decreasing of iron, copper and manganese contents of maize plant whereas the chlorophyll contents increased. Amujoyegbe et al (2007) evinced a positive impact of a mixture which contains poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer to the total chlorophyll content of maize. Water stress reduced the total chlorophyll content (Sanchez et al 1983). According to Gitelson et al (2014) the canopy chlorophyll content depends on the ages of leaves

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