The Effect of Cold and Drought Stresses on Yield, Yield Components and Water Use Efficiency of some Corn Hybrids (Zea mays L.)

Subject Areas : Journal of Crop Ecophysiology

Mohsen Tarighaleslami ¹ , Mohammad Kafi ² , Ahmad Nezami ³ , Reza zarghami ⁴

1 - Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 - Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 - Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
4 - Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran

Received: 2016-12-01 Accepted : 2017-08-13 Published : 2017-10-23

Keywords: drought, Biological yield, harvest index, water use efficiency, water requirement,

Abstract :

Cold and drought stresses are considered as the most important factors limiting crop production. To evaluate the effect of these tow stresses on yield and yield components of corn hybrids, a field experiment was implemented in split plots based on a randomized complete block design in 3 replicates during 2014 at the Research Greenhouse of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. In this research, chilling stress in two levels (i.e. non-stress, and cold stress) is considered as the main factor and three levels of drought stress (i.e. irrigation equivalent to 100% of plants water requirement, non-stress as control, irrigation equivalent to 75% of plants water requirement, and irrigation equivalent to 50% of plants water requirement) as sub factor and three hybrid corn (i.e. single-cross 704, single-cross 400, single-cross 260). The results showed that the effects of drought and hybrids on traits under study were significant. Cold and drought stresses interaction of different corn varieties on the traits under study (seed number per ear, 100-seed weight, yield, biological yield and harvest index) was also significant. The highest seed yields of hybrid 704 and hybrid 400 under 100% water requirement were 7887 and 6862 kg.ha-1 respectively. Single-cross 400 variety had the highest water productivity in line with the 704 variety with the highest grain yield and water consumption efficiency, water consumption efficiency for biomass production in water-limited conditions increased. Finally, it shows that cold and drought stress interaction resulted in highest water consumption efficiency in the treatments of non-chilling stress and 100% water requirement.

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