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Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes
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Developing Functional Relationships between Soil Moisture Content and Corn Early-Season Physiology, Growth, and
Ranadheer Reddy Vennam1, Purushothaman Ramamoorthy2, Sadikshya Poudel1
1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 14, 2023
Summary
Early-season drought significantly impacts corn growth, reducing leaf area and biomass. One hybrid showed better physiological resilience, while another improved root development under water stress.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Plant Physiology
- Drought Stress Research
Background:
- Drought poses a significant threat to global agriculture, impacting crop yield at all growth stages.
- Early seedling development is critical for overall plant health and yield, yet corn's response to early-season soil moisture deficits remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morpho-physiological and biomass trait responses of corn (Zea mays L.) to varying soil moisture levels during the early vegetative stage (V2-V7).
- To identify key traits for early-season drought tolerance in corn hybrids.
Main Methods:
- Two corn hybrids were cultivated under controlled conditions with five distinct soil moisture treatments, ranging from 0.15 to 0.03 m³ m⁻³ volumetric water content (VWC).
- Morphological (leaf area, root-to-shoot ratio) and physiological (stomatal conductance, transpiration) parameters, along with biomass (shoot and root dry weight), were measured.
Main Results:
- Sub-optimal soil moisture significantly reduced plant growth, with leaf area decreasing by up to 72% and shoot dry weight by 74% under severe stress (0.03 m³ m⁻³ VWC).
- Stomatal conductance and transpiration rates decreased substantially under drought conditions, indicating physiological stress responses.
- The root-to-shoot ratio increased under low VWC, suggesting a shift in biomass allocation. Hybrid 'P1316YHR' exhibited better physiological performance, while 'A6659VT2RIB' showed enhanced root growth.
Conclusions:
- Early-season soil moisture deficits critically impair corn physiology and morphology, affecting overall plant development and yield potential.
- Biomass partitioning is dynamic and influenced by drought intensity, with different hybrids exhibiting varied adaptive strategies.
- Findings provide insights for selecting drought-tolerant corn varieties and improving irrigation management through crop modeling.
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