Evaluation of drought tolerance in new Bulgarian sweet corn genotypes with using stress tolerance indices

Two inbred lines and their heterotic F1 hybrid of sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf.) were evaluated to assess their reaction for PEG-mediated water stress at the seedling stage in terms of various physiological and biochemical traits. Water potentials were: zero as control and -0.6, -0.9, -1.2 and -1.5 MPa as treatments. Stress- determining parameters such as proline content, malondiadehyde, and hydrogen peroxide were measured. In water stress, the germination was inversely proportional to the Polyethylene glycol concentrations in all three genotypes; roots and shoots length, fresh and dry weight decreased with an increasing of polyethylene glycol concentration. Malondiadehyde, proline, and hydrogen peroxide were found to be increased at different osmotic gradients in comparison to control. The data observed in the experiments revealed that the line C-6 might be used as a very promising parent to breed and select new drought tolerant sweet corn hybrids. Such a suggestion needs to be further explored by involving a larger set of sweet corn lines and hybrids.