Maize hybrids contrasting for drought tolerance differ during the vegetative stage

Maize hybrids contrasting for drought tolerance differ during the vegetative stage. Drought is the main constraint on maize production in developing nations. Differences during development between genetic materials of maize grown under water restriction suggest that the plant can be improved with a view to its adaptation. In maize, sensitivity to water stress can occur at any stage of its phenological development. However, few studies report its effects on the vegetative phase of the cycle. On this basis, this study was conducted to examine how shoot and root-system indices are expressed in cultivation under water deficit as well as determine which indicators best explain the difference between hybrids in the evaluated water regimes. Commercial seeds of hybrids BR1055 and DKB-390 (drought-tolerant) and BRS1010 (drought-sensitive) were germinated in PVC tubes (1.0 m × 0.1 m) in a randomized complete block design, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The experiment was developed in a greenhouse where two water regimes were tested: no water stress and with water stress from the VE stage. The soil consisted of quartz sand mixed with a commercial fertilizer. Stem and root traits were evaluated up to the V5 growth stage. Relative chlorophyll content, leaf temperature, stem length, phenology, shoot dry biomass, root length, root dry biomass, root surface area, root volume and D95 were responsive to water deficit. The parameters that allowed the distinction between the hybrids in water the regimes were relative chlorophyll content, leaf temperature, phenology and average root diameter.