Morpho-physiological changes in maize seedling sunder osmotic stress

Drought is a major abiotic stress factor limiting crop growth, development and production worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate tolerance to osmotic stress of maize seedlings. More than 6,000 accessions from the Maize Research Institute gene bank were tested under controlled drought (at flowering) in Egypt, and afterwards in temperate climate (Serbia and Macedonia). Out of 41 drought tolerant accessions in the field, five inbred lines were chosen for laboratory testing, as well as one drought sensitive line. These genotypes were exposed to 4% polyethylene glycol-PEG (Mr 10000) for 24 h and 48 h. Nine-day-old seedlings compared to control conditions were analyzed in root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight and proline content. Results showed reduction in all parameters under stress, while only proline content increased in all PEG treated genotypes compared to control.