Agronomic, morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics of tolerant and non-tolerant drought maize varieties

Abstract

The agronomic, morphological, anatomical and physiological characteristics of native and improved varieties of rain fed drought tolerant maize (DTV) and non-tolerant varieties (NDTV) was compared. Correlation analysis of each variety in terms of production characteristics and other variables was done. This was done in order to observe if some of the latter could be used as selection indices of productive plants. The study was conducted under irrigated conditions in Zacatecas, Mexico (2280 musl; 15.8°C mean temperature; 448 mm of annual rainfall average). The average of 10 fully competitive plants of each variety was evaluated. There were no differences between the DTV and NDTV as a group, but they differed when considering characteristics of each individual variety. It suggests that to find differences between these varieties, they should be studied individually. The indices for selecting productive plants in the early DTV native are: C-5: NGC, NRC, NL and W5G for both grain and stubble; in the DTV semi early native: C-7: high values of: NKR and low: EH, DMF, DS and PH for grain, also high values of: W5G, V5G, NSP and NPBT for stubble; in the DTV native semi early C-23, high values of: W5G and a low one of PL for grain, also high values of: W5G, V5G and EH and low of: ASY, NRC and ILE, for stubble.