Identification of Promising Genotypes and Discriminating Traits under Salt Stress at Early Growth Stages of Maize

Salinity stress is one of the leading abiotic stresses seriously affecting the crop productivity across the world. Early growth stages are more affected by salinity stress than terminal growth stages. Therefore, maize genotypes were evaluated for their performance in three different studies (Experiment-1: irrigation of seeds with salt solutions (distilled water, 4 dS/m, 6 dS/m and 10 dS/m) for 5 days, Experiment-2: application of different salinity treatments (distilled water, 4 dS/m, 6 dS/m and 10 dS/m) for 20 days from sowing to seedling emergence stage, Experiment-3: application of salinity stresses in hydroponic culture under four above mentioned different salinity treatments. Time to start germination (TSG), time to 50% germination (TFG) and final germination percentage (FGP) of the maize genotypes was reduced by salinity stress. Radicle length, plumule length, root and shoot length and fresh weight and chlorophyll contents were also linearly reduced in maize genotypes by increasing salinity levels. Moreover, sodium (Na+) concentration was increased in seeds and seedlings of maize genotypes whereas; potassium (K+) concentration was reduced with gradual rise in salinity levels. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) biplots facilitated the efficient assortment of susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderately tolerant and tolerant maize genotypes for each of the three studies separately. Genotype „YS-2008‟ was susceptible for seed treatment and hydroponic studies whereas, genotype „T267-5‟ was susceptible for early seedling and hydroponic studies. Genotype „C864-284‟ was tolerant in early seedling and hydroponic studies. The GGE biplot analysis indicated that „YS-2008‟ genotype was susceptible for salinity stress. Under hydroponic conditions, genotypes could effectively be discriminated by the imposition of severe salt stress (10 dS/m); however, under seed treatments and early seedling growth stages, mild stress treatments (4 dS/m) were sufficient enough to discriminate the maize genotypes. Hydroponic evaluation of genotypes is suitable and preferable under high stress conditions at early growth stages. Identified tolerant and susceptible genotypes could be effectively used in different breeding programs to develop salt tolerant new cultivars for commercial purposes. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers