Variability of young maize plants traits in a set of local populations.

Taking into account the importance of root and coleoptile and mesocotyl length of maize young plants, we considered appropriate to analyse the variability of these traits in a set of maize local populations. The root system development, the mesocotyl and the coleoptile were studied in a number of 41 local populations at The Maize Breeding Department of ARDS Turda. The average length was 28.42 cm for embrionary roots, 17.37 cm for primary roots, 1.43 cm for mesocotyl, 3.50 cm for coleoptile and 4.92 for plantlets. The variability was low for embrionary roots, coleoptile and plantlets length and medium for primary roots and mesocotyl length. A correlation was noticed between the length of mesocotyl and the length of coleoptile and plantlets. The size of roots, mesocotyl and coleoptile is influenced by the area where the local population is formed. Local populations with high root and coleoptile length such as Tulca, Lapusneac and Biertan can be used for obtaining some valuable inbred lines of maize.