Hydro and aeroponic technique for rapid drought tolerance screening in maize (Zea mays)

Present study was carried out under field and controlled conditions at New Delhi during 2015 and 2016 to standardize a new rapid screening technique to identify drought tolerant maize (Zea mays L.)genotypes. The genotypes have shown variable wilting symptoms and recovery during the stress and while reverting back to hydroponic, respectively. Only the tolerant genotypes, viz. hybrid ‘PMH 4’ and inbreds ‘DQL633-1-1’, ‘DQL 790 PG-2-4’, ‘CM 125’, ‘CM 140’, and ‘LM 14’ have shown less wilting and much faster recovery compared to susceptible ones viz., ‘IMH 1415’, ‘CML 327’, ‘CML 207’, ‘CML 176’, ‘CML 266’, and ‘CML 556(W)’. The new rapid method could able to identify and verified the drought tolerant and susceptible genotypes very effectively at seedling stage and therefore it can be utilized in breeding programme for preliminary identification of drought tolerant and susceptible genotypes.