Morphological and physiological response of maize seedlings to chilling stress (original) (raw)
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Chilling tolerance in maize: agronomic and physiological approaches
Crop and Pasture Science, 2009
Maize is a C 4 plant species with higher temperature optima than C 3 plant species. Growth and productivity of maize are severely constrained by chilling stress. Here, we review the effects of chilling stress on growth, phenology, water and nutrient relations, anatomy, and photosynthesis in maize. Several management strategies to cope with chilling stress are also proposed. In maize, chilling stress is known to reduce leaf size, stem extension and root proliferation, disturb plant water relations, and impede nutrient uptake. Chilling stress in maize is a complex phenomenon with physiological and biochemical responses at both cellular and whole-organ level. CO 2 assimilation by leaves is reduced mainly due to membrane damage, photoinhibition, and disturbed activity of various enzymes. Enhanced metabolite flux through the photorespiratory pathway increases the oxidative load on tissues as both processes generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Injury caused by ROS to macromolecules under chilling stress is one of the major deterrents to growth. Low-molecular-weight osmolytes, including glycinebetaine, proline, and organic acids, are crucial in sustaining cellular function under chilling stress. Plant growth substances such as salicylic acid, gibberellic acid, and abscisic acid modulate the response of maize to chilling stress. Polyamines and several enzymes act as antioxidants and reduce the adverse effects of chilling stress. Chilling tolerance in maize can be managed through the development and selection of chilling-tolerant genotypes by breeding and genomic approaches. Agronomic approaches such as exogenous application of growth hormones and osmoprotectants to seeds or plants, and early vigour, can also aid in chilling tolerance.
Plants
Maize is a cold-sensitive crop, and it exhibits severe retardation of growth and development when exposed to cold snaps during and right after seedling emergence. Although different agronomic, physiological, and molecular approaches have been tried to overcome the problems related to cold stress in recent years, the mechanisms causing cold resistance in maize are still unclear. Screening and breeding of varieties for cold resistance may be a sustainable option to boost maize production under low-temperature environments. Herein, seedlings of 39 different maize genotypes were treated under both 10 °C low temperature and 22 °C normal temperature conditions for 7 days, to assess the changes in seven growth parameters, two membrane characteristics, two reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and four antioxidant enzymes activities. The changes in ten photosynthetic performances, one osmotic substance accumulation, and three polyamines (PAs) metabolisms were also measured. Results indicate...
CBU International Conference Proceedings
In the climate conditions of Bulgaria, early stages of maize plants development often go under suboptimal temperatures. Chilling stress is known to cause different physiological disturbances in young maize plants during the transition period from heterotrophic to autotrophic nutrition. However, the effect of chilling may differ among maize hybrids. Photosynthetic performance could be a good indicator for the hybrid tolerance to chilling. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tolerance of young maize plants from two hybridsthe new Bulgarian hybrid-Kneza 307 and the hybrid P9528 using as criteria the changes in their photosynthetic performance. Plants at the third leaf stage were exposed for seven days to chilling stress. At the end of the experimental period, growth, leaf lipid peroxidation, and several photosynthetic parameters were measured. We found that chilling stress reduced the fresh mass accumulation, increased lipid peroxidation, diminished net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content, and enhanced non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Although the responses of both hybrids were similar, some specificity were observed and discussed.
Thermal Stresses in Maize: Effects and Management Strategies
Plants, 2021
Climate change can decrease the global maize productivity and grain quality. Maize crop requires an optimal temperature for better harvest productivity. A suboptimal temperature at any critical stage for a prolonged duration can negatively affect the growth and yield formation processes. This review discusses the negative impact of temperature extremes (high and low temperatures) on the morpho-physiological, biochemical, and nutritional traits of the maize crop. High temperature stress limits pollen viability and silks receptivity, leading to a significant reduction in seed setting and grain yield. Likewise, severe alterations in growth rate, photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, cellular membranes, and antioxidant enzyme activities under low temperature collectively limit maize productivity. We also discussed various strategies with practical examples to cope with temperature stresses, including cultural practices, exogenous protectants, breeding climate-smart crops, and molecul...
Journal of Experimental Botany, 2005
The effect of low growth temperature on morphophysiological traits of maize was investigated by the means of a QTL analysis in a segregating F 2:3 population grown under field conditions in Switzerland. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, leaf greenness, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and shoot nitrogen content were investigated at the seedling stage for two years. Maize was sown on two dates in each year; thus, plants sown early were exposed to low temperature, whereas those sown later developed under more favourable conditions. The main QTLs involved in the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus at low temperature were stable across the cold environments and were also identified under controlled conditions with suboptimal temperature in a previous study. Based on the QTL analysis, relationships between chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and leaf greenness were moderate. This indicates that the extent and functioning of the photosynthetic machinery may be under different genetic control. The functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus in plants developed at low temperature in the field did not noticeably affect biomass accumulation; since there were no co-locations between QTLs for leaf area and shoot dry weight, biomass accumulation did not seem to be carbon-limited at the seedling stage under cool conditions in the field.
Functional Plant Biology, 1999
Photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation in maize genotypes (Zea mays L.) VA-36 and A-619, ranked as possessing low and high sensitivity to low temperature, were studied in relation to regrowth after transfer from day/night temperatures of 16/12˚C to 25/20˚C. Plants were grown for 45 days at 25/20 or 16/12˚C, or transferred after 45 days from 16/12˚C to 25/20˚C for 27 days. Photosynthesis of both genotypes after a 45-day growth at 16/12˚C was lower than at 25/20˚C. When the photosynthesis of plants at 16/12˚C was measured at 25˚C it was as high as the photosynthesis of plants at 25˚C in VA-36, while it remained lower in A-619. A strong reduction of rubisco content was observed in the sensitive genotype and is suggested as the cause of photosynthesis limitation that was still observed after recovery at 25/20˚C. After a 45-day growth at 16/12˚C, a reduction of sucrose and, to a lesser extent, starch content was observed. Biomass accumulation was also reduced in both genotypes. Tra...
Physiological response of maize (Zea mays L.) to high temperature stress
This study was conducted to investigate physiological response of maize to high temperature stress. Field trial was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications during the second crop season of the year 2008 in Sanliurfa, Turkey. RI, chlorophyll content, and Chla/b were measured in laboratory. LT, DF, and GY were measured in field trial. The relations among the investigated characteristics were evaluated by correlation analysis. We found that early mature varieties had higher values with regard to chlorophyll content and GY compared to late mature varieties. However, early mature varieties had lower values with regard to RI, LT, and DF than late mature varieties. Correlation analysis revealed significant relations among the characteristics measured. It was concluded that early mature varieties having lower LT and RI levels compared to late mature varieties might be recommended as second crop for the region with extremely high temperatures during the second crop season.
Scientific Reports
Maize is a sensitive crop to drought and heat stresses, particularly at the reproductive stages of development. The present study investigated the individual and interactive effects of drought (50% field capacity) and heat (38 °C/30 °C) stresses on morpho-physiological growth, yield, nutrient uptake and oxidative metabolism in two maize hybrids i.e., 'Xida 889' and 'Xida 319'. The stress treatments were applied at tasseling stage for 15 days. Drought, heat and drought + heat stress caused oxidative stress by the overproduction of ROS (O 2− , H 2 o 2 , OH −) and enhanced malondialdehyde contents, which led to reduced photosynthetic components, nutrients uptake and yield attributes. The concurrent occurrence of drought and heat was more severe for maize growth than the single stress. However, both stresses induced the metabolites accumulation and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants to prevent the oxidative damage. The performance of Xida 899 was more prominent than the Xida 319. The greater tolerance of Xida 889 to heat and drought stresses was attributed to strong antioxidant defense system, higher osmolyte accumulation, and maintenance of photosynthetic pigments and nutrient balance compared with Xida 319. Under natural environments, crops are often subjected to different abiotic stresses simultaneously during their life cycle which adversely affect the growth and productivity of field crops 1,2. Among abiotic stresses, extreme temperature and water deficit conditions are two of the most frequent environmental threats to crop growth and productivity, and ultimately the food security under changing climate 3-8. These stresses negatively affect the yield of major staple food crops 5,6,9 , that account for 60% of global food energy supply 10. Previous studies showed that the combined drought and heat stresses caused a disproportionate damage on plant growth and productivity compared with each of individual stress 11-15. Temperature above 35 °C affects the vegetative and reproductive growth of maize, from germination to grain filling 16. However, the reproductive stages of the crop plants are more sensitive to combined drought and heat stresses than the vegetative stages, although each stress affected reproductive traits differently 12,15. These stresses noticeably reduced the photosynthetic activity, altered oxidative metabolism, caused membrane instability 7,17 , affected stomatal conductance, and decreased the leaf area and
Maize Adaptability to Heat Stress under Changing Climate
Plant Stress Physiology [Working Title]
The rapidly increasing human population is an alarming issue and would need more food production under changing climate. Abiotic stresses like heat stress and temperature fluctuation are becoming key issues to be addressed for boosting crop production. Maize growth and productivity are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Grain yield losses in maize from heat stress are expected to increase owing to higher temperatures during the growing season. This situation demands the development of maize hybrids tolerant to heat and drought stresses without compromising grain yield under stress conditions. The chapter aimed to assess the updates on the influence of high-temperature stress (HTS) on the physio-biochemical processes in plants and to draw an association between yield components and heat stress on maize. Moreover, exogenous applications of protectants, antioxidants, and signaling molecules induce HTS tolerance in maize plants and could help the plants cope with HTS by scavenging r...