Exploring the Role of Calcium to Improve Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize

Abiotic stresses, including chilling, impede the plant growth and development mainly by oxidative damage. In this study, seed priming with CaCl₂ was employed to reduce the damage caused by chilling stress in hybrid maize. Maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ (ppm) aerated solution of CaCl₂ for 24 h and dried. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Seed priming with CaCl₂ significantly reduced the chilling damage and improved the germination rate, root and shoot length, and seedling fresh and dry weights. Activities of antioxidants, including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, were also improved. Soluble sugars and α-amylase concentrations determined as general metabolic indicators of stress were also increased by seed priming with CaCl₂. Priming also improved the performance of maize at optimal temperature. Maintenance of tissue water contents, reduction in membrane leakage and increase in antioxidant activities, and carbohydrate metabolism seemed to induce chilling tolerance by CaCl₂. Seed priming with 100 mg l⁻¹ CaCl₂ was the optimal concentration in improving the performance of hybrid maize both under optimal and stress conditions.     

Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize Induced by Seed Priming with Salicylic Acid

The optimum temperature for maize germination is between 25 and 28 °C. Poor and erratic germination at suboptimal temperature is the most important hindrance in its early sowing. This study was conducted to induce chilling tolerance in hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) by seed priming with salicylic acid (SA) and to unravel the background biochemical basis. For seed priming, maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 ppm (mg l^?1) aerated solutions of SA for 24 h and were dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Performance of maize seedlings was hampered under chilling stress. But seed priming with SA improved the seedling emergence, root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weights, and leaf and root score considerably compared with control both at optimal and chilling temperatures. However, priming in 50 mg l^?1 SA solution was more effective, followed by priming in 100 mg l^?1 SA solution. Seed priming with SA improved the chilling tolerance in hybrid maize mainly by the activation of antioxidants (including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase). Moreover, maintenance of high tissue water contents and reduced membrane permeability also contributed towards chilling tolerance.     

Glycinebetaine Improves Chilling Tolerance in Hybrid Maize

Plant growth and development is hampered by various environmental stresses including chilling. We investigated the possibility of improving chilling tolerance in hybrid maize by glycinebetaine (GB) seed treatments. Maize hybrid (Hycorn 8288) seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l^?1 (p.p.m.) aerated solution of GB for 24 h and were dried back. Treated and untreated seeds were sown at 27 °C (optimal temperature) and at 15 °C (chilling stress) under controlled conditions. Germination and seedling growth was significantly hindered under chilling stress. Moreover, chilling stress significantly reduced the starch metabolism and relative water contents (RWC), and increased the membrane electrolyte leakage. However, activities of antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) were increased under stress conditions. Seed treatments with GB improved the germination rate, root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weights, leaf and root scores, RWC, soluble sugars, α‐amylase activity and antioxidants significantly compared with untreated seeds under optimal and stress conditions. Induction of chilling tolerance was attributed to maintenance of high tissue water contents, reduced membrane electrolyte leakage, and higher antioxidant activities and carbohydrate metabolism. Seed treatment with 100 mg l^?1 GB was the best treatment for improving the performance of hybrid maize under normal and stress conditions compared with control and other levels used.     

Physiological Role of Exogenously Applied Glycinebetaine to Improve Drought Tolerance in Fine Grain Aromatic Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice performance under drought stress is mainly impeded by oxidative damage and hampered plant water status, which may be improved by exogenous use of osmoprotectants. In this study, the role of glycinebetaine (GB) to improve drought tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Super-basmati was evaluated. GB was used both as seed and foliar application. For priming, seeds were soaked in 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ aerated solution of GB for 48 h. At four-leaf stage, one set of plants was subjected to drought stress, while the other set kept at full field capacity. Drought was maintained at 50 % of field capacity by watering when needed. For exogenous application, 50, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹ GB levels were applied at five-leaf stage. Drought stress greatly reduced the rice growth while GB application improved it both under well-watered and drought conditions. Drought tolerance in rice was strongly related to the maintenance of tissue water potential and antioxidant system, which improved the integrity of cellular membranes and enabled the plant to maintain high photosynthesis. Foliar treatments were more effective than the seed treatments, while among the GB treatment, foliar application with 100 mg l⁻¹ was the most effective.     

Zinc seed priming improves salt resistance in maize

Salt stress is a major yield‐limiting factor in crops by reducing nutrient uptake and plant growth. Under salt stress, decreased water and nutrient uptake results in nutrient imbalance in plants. In addition, at high pH in saline conditions, solubility of minerals is also reduced leading to low availability of certain nutrients. Perspectives to overcome these limitations by Zn seed priming were studied with maize plants exposed to NaCl as salt stress. Maize seeds were primed for 24 hr in deionized water and 4 mm ZnSO₄·7H₂O solution (ZnP) and subsequently air‐dried at room temperature before further use. The DTZ (diphenylthiocarbazone) staining method was used for showing Zn²⁺ localization in the seeds. Zn²⁺ and other nutrient concentrations in unprimed, water and ZnP seeds and maize plants were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS). Maize plants (cv. Sun star L.) were grown for 3 weeks in complete nutrient solution with or without salt stress (100 mm NaCl) under glasshouse conditions. Seed Zn²⁺ contents were increased after ZnP treatment by 600%. In maize seeds, most of the primed Zn²⁺ accumulated in the outer tissues (particularly, aleurone layer) of maize seed. Zn priming decreased the injurious effects of salt stress on plant growth. Under salt stress conditions, biomass production of plants from ZnP treatments was 25% higher compared to water priming treatment. Zn seed priming also improved mineral nutrient status of plants grown in both control and salt stress conditions. Plants from ZnP treatments also showed higher accumulation of Na⁺ in the shoots. This offers perspectives for using Zn seed priming for improving early seedling development and plant nutrient status of maize under salt stress conditions.     

Improving the Performance of Wheat by Seed Priming Under Saline Conditions

Salinity is one of a major threat in harvesting good wheat stand on sustained basis. In this study, potential of seed priming techniques to improve the performance of wheat varieties (SARC‐1 and MH‐97) in a saline field was tested. For priming, wheat seeds were soaked in aerated solution of ascorbate (50 mg l^?1; ascorbate priming), salicylic acid (50 mg l^?1; salicylicate priming), kinetin (50 mg l^?1; kinetin priming) and CaCl₂ (50 mg l^?1; osmopriming) for 12 h. For comparison, seeds were also soaked in simple water (hydropriming); in addition, untreated seeds were also taken as control. Seed priming treatments substantially improved the stand establishment; osmopriming (with CaCl₂) was at the top however. Likewise maximum fertile tillers, grains per spike, 1000‐grain weight, grain yield and harvest index were observed in plants raised from seeds osmoprimed (with CaCl₂) followed by ascorbate priming in both the varieties tested. As an index of salinity tolerance, seed priming treatments also improved the leaf K⁺ contents with simultaneous decrease in Na⁺ concentration, osmopriming being the best treatment. Similarly, maximum total phenolic contents, total soluble proteins (TSP), α‐amylase and protease activities were observed in osmoprimed (with CaCl₂) seeds followed by ascorbate priming. Economic analysis also indicated that osmopriming is more viable with maximum net return and benefit‐to‐cost ratio. In conclusion, different seed priming treatments in wheat seeds improved the salinity tolerance nonetheless osmopriming (with CaCl₂) was the most effective treatments to get higher grain yield and net return in both wheat varieties whereas kinetin was the least effective.     

Changes in Hormonal Balance: A Possible Mechanism of Pre‐Sowing Chilling‐Induced Salt Tolerance in Spring Wheat

There is a lack of knowledge about factors contributing to the chilling‐induced alleviatory effects on growth of plants under salt stress. Thus, the primary objective of the study was to determine whether chilling‐induced changes in endogenous hormones, ionic partitioning within shoots and roots and/or gaseous exchange characteristics is involved in salt tolerance of two genetically diverses of wheat crops. For this purpose, the seeds of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, MH‐97 (salt intolerant) and Inqlab‐91 (salt tolerant) were chilled at 3°C for 2 weeks. The chilled, hydroprimed and non‐primed (control) seeds of the two wheat cultivars were sown in both Petri dishes in a growth room and in the field after treatment with 15 dS m^?1 NaCl salinity. Chilling was very effective in increasing germination rate and subsequent growth when compared with hydropriming and control under salt stress. Results from field experiments clearly indicated the efficacy of chilling over hydropriming in improving shoot dry biomass and grain yield in either cultivar, particularly under salt stress. This increase in growth and yield was related to increased net photosynthetic rate, greater potential to uptake and accumulate the beneficial mineral elements (K⁺ and Ca²⁺) in the roots and reduced uptake and accumulation of toxic mineral element (Na⁺) in the shoots of both wheat cultivars when grown under salt stress. Salt‐stressed plants of both wheat cultivars raised from chilled seed had greater concentrations of indoleacetic acid, abscisic acid, salicylic acid and spermine when compared with hydropriming and control. Therefore, induction of salt tolerance by pre‐sowing chilling treatment in wheat could be attributed to its beneficial effects on ionic homeostasis and hormonal balance. The results presented are also helpful to understand the chilling‐induced cross adaptation of plants in natural environments. Moreover, efficacy of pre‐sowing chilling treatment over hydropriming suggested its commercial utilization as a low risk priming treatment for better wheat crop production under stressful environments.     

Seed Priming Enhances the Performance of Late Sown Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by Improving Chilling Tolerance

In rice–wheat systems, late sowing of wheat is the major reason of low yield. This yield reduction is principally due to lower and erratic germination, and poor crop establishment because of low temperature prevailing. The present study was conducted to explore the possibility of improving late sown wheat performance by seed priming techniques. Seed priming strategies were: on‐farm seed priming, hydropriming for 24 h, seed hardening for 12 h and osmohardening with KCl or CaCl₂ for 12 h. Seed priming improved emergence, stand establishment, tiller numbers, allometry, grain and straw yield, and harvest index. However, seed priming techniques did not affect plant height, number of spikelets, number of grains and 1000 grain weight. Osmohardening with CaCl₂ gave more grain and straw yield and harvest index compared with control and other priming treatments, followed by osmohardening with KCl and on‐farm seed priming. Improved yield was attributed principally to better stand establishment and improved number of fertile tillers. Seed priming techniques can be effectively used to improve the performance of late sown wheat.     

Seed priming improves germination in saline conditions for Chenopodium quinoa and Amaranthus caudatus

Seed priming has proved to be an effective method in imparting stress tolerance to plants using natural and/or synthetic compounds to treat the seeds before germination. The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of priming treatments in seeds of Chenopodium quinoa and Amaranthus caudatus to improve germination under NaCl. Species‐specific protocols for seed hydropriming and osmopriming were established by germinating seeds under different water potentials and creating seed imbibition curves. Primed seeds were then germinated under different concentrations of NaCl, and the effect of priming was analysed based on the parameters, such as final germination percentage (FGP), germination index (GI) and mean germination time (MGT). Seed hydropriming and osmopriming caused significant improvements in germination velocity and uniformity, reflected in high FGP, high GI and reduced MGT under salinity. C. quinoa had a higher tolerance to salinity than A. caudatus during seed germination. Improved germination in salinity resulted from osmopriming seeds with solutions of low water potential for A. caudatus, while for C. quinoa, this effect was achieved from hydropriming and osmopriming seeds with solutions of high water potential. Primed tolerance to moderate salinity was achieved for A. caudatus, and for both species, the salinity threshold for germination to occur was slightly broadened.     

多胺对玉米种子吸胀期间耐冷性和种子发芽能力的影响

以玉米耐寒自交系黄C和低温敏感自交系Mo17为材料, 研究了亚精胺(Spd)和精胺(Spm)引发对玉米种子吸胀中的耐冷性和种子发芽能力的影响。种子经0.25 mmol L^-1的Spd和Spm引发72 h后, 在5℃下低温吸胀不同时间(12、24、36和48 h)。结果表明, Spd和Spm引发提高了胁迫期间两自交系胚内过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性, 以及可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸(Pro)含量, 降低了胚渗出液的核苷酸含量, 同时显著提高发芽率, 并显著缩短平均发芽时间。低温吸胀48 h后, 与对照相比, Spd和Spm处理分别提高两自交系种子的平均发芽率18.5%和14.0%, 分别缩短平均发芽时间1.21 d和1.14 d。黄C在种子吸胀期间的耐冷性强于Mo17。总之, Spd和Spm处理能提高玉米种子吸胀期间的耐冷性, 提高低温胁迫下种子发芽能力。     

种子引发对水分胁迫下水稻发芽及幼苗生理性状的影响

不同基因型稻种经水引发及聚乙二醇(PEG)渗透胁迫引发处理均能降低稻种丙二醛(MDA)含量,促进可溶性总糖(SS)降解,加快稻种内部糖代谢进程,提高相溶性溶质脯氨酸(Pro)及可溶性蛋白质(SP)含量,也有利于提高苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,引发效果较明显。且适度PEG引发稻种的效果明显好于水引发,杂交籼稻在PEG浓度为20%的条件下引发效果最优,而常规粳型水稻在PEG浓度为10%~15%的引发条件下效果较好,但超出最高PEG引发浓度的阈值,会对稻种产生危害,影响其正常萌发。引发处理后的稻种对不同程度水分胁迫程度的响应表明,适当强度的引发处理利于激发稻种物质代谢、利于各水稻品种的萌发、幼苗形态指标及保护性酶等生理指标的显著提高,而严重的水分胁迫均不利于稻种萌发;表明引发处理虽能提高水分胁迫条件下种子活力,但稻种激发自身对外界萌发环境的协调能力有限,且不同品种间存在明显差异,籼稻优于粳稻。     

水杨酸对玉米种子萌发早期耐旱性的影响

为了探讨水杨酸(SA)引发对干旱胁迫下玉米种子生理生化特性的影响,以郑单958玉米品种为试验材料,在15℃黑暗下用0.1 mmol/L的SA引发处理36h,在15％的PEG-6000模拟干旱条件下吸胀不同时间(0,12,24,36,48 h),研究SA引发对干旱胁迫下玉米种胚、胚乳和种皮生理生化特性的影响.结果表明,干旱胁迫期间,种胚中CAT活性、胚乳中可溶性糖含量、种皮中可溶性蛋白含量增加.相对未引发种子,SA引发显著提高了种子CAT活性、可溶性糖含量、可溶性蛋白含量.因此,0.1 mmol/L SA引发处理可以提高玉米种子萌发早期的抗旱性.     

种子引发对干旱胁迫下高粱种子发芽及生理特性的影响

萌发期的干旱胁迫是限制高粱生产的主要障碍因子，种子引发是提高作物抗逆性的一个重要技术。为了明确不同引发处理对干旱胁迫下高粱萌发及生理特性的影响，以晋杂22和晋早5564为研究材料，分别进行聚乙二醇（PEG）、KCl、CaCl₂、水杨酸（SA）引发和未引发（NP）5个处理，研究在正常情况和干旱胁迫下种子发芽情况及生理特性变化。结果表明，干旱胁迫显著降低高粱种子发芽率，抑制胚芽和胚根伸长。干旱胁迫下PEG、KCl、CaCl₂和SA引发后，晋杂22的萌发率比NP处理分别提高了18.18%、12.72%、35.45%和31.82%，晋早5564的萌发率比NP处理分别提高了20.18%、10.76%、26.91%和30.04%。干旱胁迫下，引发处理促进了胚根和胚芽的伸长，CaCl₂和SA处理在晋杂22抗旱效果最佳，芽长分别比NP处理增加了267.07%和271.95%，根长分别比NP处理增加了231.94%和355.56%。CaCl₂处理在晋早5564效果最好，芽长和根长分别比NP处理增加了195.96%和206.60%。种子引发提高了胚芽内抗氧化酶活性，减轻了膜脂过氧化对胚芽的损伤；同时种子引发促进了糖代谢，提高了脯氨酸含量，缓解了干旱胁迫对种子萌发的抑制效应。     

Chemical priming with urea and KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> enhances maize hybrids (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) seed viability under abiotic stress

Seed priming is a method to improve germination and seedling establishment under stress conditions. The effect of seed priming in chemical solutions such as urea and KNO₃, on protein and proline content, germination, and seedling growth responses of four maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids under drought and salt stress conditions was studied in a controlled environment in 2010. Treatments included stress type and intensity at five levels: moderate drought (MD), severe drought (SD), moderate salt (MS), severe salt (SS), and control (C1, without stress), three seed priming types including water (C2, as control), KNO₃, and urea (as chemical priming), and four maize hybrids including Maxima, SC704, Zola, and 307. The results showed that the highest germination percentage (Ger %), germination rate (GR), seedling length (SL), radical length (RL), and seedling to radical length ratio (S/R) were achieved in no stress treatments and most proline content in SD treatment. Urea priming led to more Ger%, GR, and SL compared to other primers and treatment under KNO₃ priming resulted in higher RL compared to other primers. Chemical priming had no effect on S/R and proline content. Also, in terms of most traits, no difference was found among the four hybrids. Results showed that salt stress could affect GR and RL more than the drought stress. Drought stress affected germination percentage and S/R more than the salt stress. Both stresses decreased all measured parameters, except protein and proline content which were increased remarkably, and more under drought compared to salt stress. Based on proline content, hybrid 304 appeared to be more resistant to stress than other hybrids. Generally, KNO₃ and urea alleviated effects of both stresses and led to increased germination and seedling growth as well as the root length. Therefore, priming could be recommended for enhancing maize growth responses under stressful conditions.     

Morphological,physiological and biochemical aspects of osmopriming-induced drought tolerance in lentil

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an important grain legume crop, mostly grown in semi-arid environments and often faces intermittent drought spells during different growth stages, which severely hamper its yield. This study, comprising of three separate experiments, was conducted to evaluate the potential of seed priming with CaCl₂ in improving drought tolerance in lentil. In the first experiment, lentil seeds were hydroprimed (water) or osmoprimed with 0.5 and 1% CaCl₂; while non-primed seeds were taken as control. In the second and third experiments, lentil seeds were subjected to pre-optimized osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) and hydropriming followed by surface drying or re-drying of primed seeds to original weight. The first two experiments were conducted in petri plates, while, in experiment 3, seeds were planted in plastic pots containing peat moss, maintained at 75% water holding capacity (WHC; well-watered) or 50% WHC (water deficit). Hydropriming and osmopriming improved seed germination, seedling growth, biomass production, chlorophyll intensity, sugar accumulation and reduced the oxidative stress in lentil under water deficit. However, osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) was more effective than the hydropriming in improving the lentil growth, biomass production, Ca accumulation and sugar metabolism under both well-watered and water deficit conditions. Seed surface drying, after priming, was more beneficial in improving the lentil performance, under both well-watered and water deficit conditions, than re-drying to original weight. Osmopriming (1% CaCl₂) increased the seeding dry weight (67%), SPAD value (140%), leaf Ca concentration (56%), α-amylase activity (55%), total soluble sugars (48%) and reduced malanodialdehyde content (35.9%) and total antioxidant activity (29.2%) than un-primed seeds under water deficit. In conclusion, osmopriming improved the lentil performance under optimal and water deficit conditions through early and synchronized emergence, better sugar and Ca accumulation which reduced the oxidative damage and resulted in better seedling growth and biomass production.     

Exogenous application of allelopathic water extracts helps improving tolerance against terminal heat and drought stresses in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Em. Thell.)

The allelopathic water extracts (AWEs) may help improve the tolerance of crop plants against abiotic stresses owing to the presence of the secondary metabolites (i.e., allelochemicals). We conducted four independent experiments to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of AWEs (applied through seed priming or foliage spray) in improving the terminal heat and drought tolerance in bread wheat. In all the experiments, two wheat cultivars, viz. Mairaj‐2008 (drought and heat tolerant) and Faisalabad‐2008 (drought and heat sensitive), were raised in pots. Both wheat cultivars were raised under ambient conditions in the wire house till leaf boot stage (booting) by maintaining the pots at 75% water‐holding capacity (WHC). Then, managed drought and heat stresses were imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% WHC, or shifting the pots inside the glass canopies (at 75% WHC), at booting, anthesis and the grain filling stages. Drought stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 39%–49%. Foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield of wheat by 26%–31%, while seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 18%–26%, respectively, than drought stress. Terminal heat stress reduced the grain yield of wheat by 38%. Seed priming with AWEs improved the grain yield by 21%–27%; while foliar application of AWEs improved the grain yield by 25%–29% than the heat stress treatment. In conclusion, the exogenous application of AWEs improved the stay green, accumulation of proline, soluble phenolics and glycine betaine, which helped to stabilize the biological membranes and improved the tolerance against terminal drought and heat stresses.     

Hydro-Priming Methods for Initiation of Metabolic Process and Synchronization of Germination in Mung Bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna Radiata</Emphasis> L.) Seeds

Seed priming is a commercially applied technique for improving seed vigor under variable field conditions. The present study was carried out to optimize the methods (direct: soaking in water 1:1 W/V and indirect: preconditioning under high RH ≥ 85%) and duration (hours)of hydro-priming, attempting to correlate the critical seed water content with priming-induced metabolic-restart in dry mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)seeds. Although the rate of water absorption and the amount of water absorbed was more by direct compared to the indirect imbibition method, the priming-induced germination responses were identical after 6hof priming treatment. The seed water content absorbed during this period was crucial for initiating the chain of biochemical events, required for early synchronized germination in primed seeds which was evident by improved membrane permeability, high activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, and more integrated chloroplast and mitochondria in primed seeds. We demonstrate that the critical water content, required for priming-induced benefits for germination vigor, is a relative unit with respect to the duration of priming and the rate of water absorption. Seed priming is a co-ordinately regulated mechanism for controlling germination capacity of seeds by modifying the permeability characteristics of biological membranes and enzyme activity. This study helps to enhance our understanding on the potential of seed priming for synchronized germination and early seedling establishment in the field and beneficial for the resource poor farming community for better return of their limited financial/farm resources under variable environmental/field conditions.     

种子引发对碱胁迫下甜高粱种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

为研究碱胁迫下种子引发对萌发及幼苗生长的影响,以甜高粱杂交种‘通甜1号’为试验材料,利用500 μmol/L γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)对种子进行引发处理。采用盆栽土培试验,将NaHCO₃:Na₂CO₃=5:1的混合碱胁迫液设3个水平(0、50、100 mmol/L)模拟碱胁迫,研究GABA种子引发处理对碱胁迫下高粱种子萌发状况及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：随着碱胁迫强度增加,无论是经过引发处理的种子还是未经过引发处理的种子,其吸水量、萌发指数、出苗率和成苗率显著下降,幼苗生长受到限制,生物量积累降低。同等碱胁迫浓度下,经过引发处理的种子与未经过引发处理的种子相比,种子吸水量、萌发指数、胚的生长及幼苗叶面积均显著提高。低浓度碱胁迫条件下,经过引发处理的种子与未经过引发处理的种子相比,幼苗的出苗率和存活率较高、生长至第7天的株高和茎粗及总生物量均显著增加。试验表明,经过引发处理的种子可以不同程度地提高碱胁迫下甜高粱种子萌发指数,缓解碱胁迫对幼苗的不利条件,促进幼苗生长,提高耐碱性。     

玉米耐寒性鉴定研究进展

玉米是对低温逆境较为敏感的重要的禾谷类作物。早春低温冷害是影响玉米产量水平提高的重要因素之一。选育和创造耐寒玉米种质是减少此种危害的有效途径。耐寒性鉴定则是耐寒育种研究的基础。综述了国内外玉米耐寒性的鉴定方法和评价指标,分析了目前玉米耐寒性鉴定存在的问题,探讨了未来研究的方向,为深入开展玉米耐寒性研究提供参考。     

Phenotypic assessment of genetic gain from selection for improved drought tolerance in semi-tropical maize populations

Most maize production across the globe is rain-fed, and production is set to be negatively impacted as duration and occurrence of droughts increases due to climate change. Development of water-deficit tolerant maize germplasm has been a major focus for most breeding programmes. Here, we sought to assess the genetic gain for grain yield in two maize populations developed for drought tolerance at CIMMYT by evaluating their cycle progeny through hybrid performance. Inbreds derived from different cycles of the Drought Tolerant Population (DTP) and La Posta Sequia (LPS) were mated to a tester (CML550), and resulting hybrids were evaluated under managed water-deficit stress and well-watered conditions. The difference in yield between water-deficit and well-watered treatments was 27% and 36% for the DTP and LPS, respectively. Genetic gain for grain yield across cycles for the two populations was confirmed in the study. Genetic gain was observed for both treatments indicating that selection for water-deficit stress tolerance simultaneously improves grain yield in well-watered conditions. The DTP population had a genetic gain of 0.07 t ha⁻¹ cycle⁻¹, while the LPS had 0.16 t ha⁻¹ cycle⁻¹ under water-deficit conditions. Significant genetic gain was also observed in the well-watered treatments for both populations. Anthesis to silking interval was significantly reduced under water-deficit stress conditions in both populations. Plant and ear height were reduced in the LPS population in both treatments, while no reductions were observed for the trait in the DTP population. Potential water-deficit stress tolerance donor lines with yields comparable to commercial check varieties were identified.