Evaluation of Drought Tolerance using Anthesis-silking Interval in Maize

Abstract

We screened the drought tolerant maize using seventeen maize genotypes from different sources, nine inbred genotypes from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (B73, CML103, CML228, CML277, CML322, CML69, Ki3, Ki11, and NC350), three Southeast Asian genotypes (DK9955, LVN-4, and 333), and five Korean hybrids (Cheongdaok, Gangdaok, Ilmichal, Kwangpyeongok, and Pyeonganok). We evaluated anthesis-silking interval (ASI), leaf senescence (LS), ears per plant (EPP), tassel length (TL), and fresh weight (FW) at silking date. According to ASI and LS examination, CML103 and Kill were drought tolerant genotypes, wheareas Ki3 and 333 were drought susceptible. EPP, TL, and FW differed according to drought resistance. Grain yield was correlated strongly with ASI, but moderately with LS. Difference in ASI between drought-stressed (DS) and well-watered (WW) conditions was less than three days in CML228, CML103, Cheongdaok, NC350, B73, Ki11, CML322, and Kwangpyeongok, whereas that of Ki3, Pyeonganok, and Gangdaok was more than 6.5 days. We concluded that CML228, CML103, Cheongdaok, NC350, B73, Ki11, CML322, and Kwangpyeongok are drought tolerant genotypes, whereas Ki3, Pyeonganok, and Gangdaok are drought susceptible. Keywords : ASI, drought susceptible genotype, drought stress, drought tolerant genotype, maize