Water Logging Tolerance in Inbred Lines of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Field experiments on maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines were conducted to identify the various morpho-physiological traits conferring water logging tolerance. Two experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design with 16 genotypes, consisting of 14 inbred lines and two synthetics. The water logging treatment was given at knee-height stage by keeping 5 cm continuous submergence for 7 days. The ANOVA revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters under study. The G x E interaction was significant for days to 50% silking, plant height, ear height, number of kernel rows/ear, leaf canopy temperature, transpiration rate and grain yield. The immediate response of maize to water logging was the development of profuse adventitious root system from several nodes of the stem (4–5 nodes). The results indicated that water logging reduced the plant height and ear height. Also under waterlogged conditions, cobs were of small length and diameter with lesser number of kernel rows/ear and the 100-seed weight was also less. There was a significant decrease in the mean grain yield of all the lines under water logged conditions with maximum reduction in case of water logging susceptible line Pop 31 ⊗ 21-1-2-4-1-1-3-1 to 11#.