Evaluation of Maize (Zea mays) Genotypes forTolerance to Drought using Yield Based Tolerance Indices

Abstract

A pot trial was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Agriculture, Gazipur from November 2021 to March 2022 to identify relatively tolerant maize genotypes based on growth, yield, yield stability and stress tolerance. indexes. Twenty maize genotypes, including CML-580, CML-563, CML-591, CML-579, CML-588, CML-593, CML-564, BD-814, BD-821, BD-824, BD-10242, BD-811, BD-826, BD-837, BD-808, BD-10237, and BD-10240, were grown under control conditions (80% of field capacity, FC) and drought conditions (40% of FC) following completely randomized design with three replications. Plant and cob height, days to maturity, cob length, cob girth, number of rows/cob, and kernel yield/plant were recorded. Drought stress reduced plant height, cob height, cob length, cob girth, number of rows/cob, and finally maize yield, but increased the days to maturity. Among the maize genotypes, CML-593, CML-564, BD-814, and BD-821 had the lowest decrease in kernel yield, while BD-808 and BD-813 had the highest decrease. Genotypes CML-593, CML-564, BD-814, and BD-821, on the other hand, demonstrated a higher yield stability index and stress tolerance index. Based on their yield and stress tolerance index, genotypes CML-593, CML-564, BD-814, and BD-821 appear to be drought tolerant, whereas BD-808 and BD-813 appear to be drought sensitive. How to Cite: Md. Abdul Mannan, Ferdousi Begum, Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Ahsan Habib, 2023. "Evaluation of Maize (Zea mays) Genotypes forTolerance to Drought using Yield Based Tolerance Indices." Journal of Agriculture and Crops, vol. 9, pp. 329-337.