Performance of different maturity groups of maize (Zea mays) hybrids under temporary waterlogging condition in a Mollisol

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes of different maturity groups, i e extra early (EEM), early (EM), medium (MM) and late (LM) were evaluated under managed temporary waterlogging stress condition during the kharif season of 2010 and 2011. Data revealed that grain yield, yield attributes and physiological parameters remarkably varied with waterlogging stress among different maturity groups. The tolerance against waterlogging stress of EM and LM groups for plant stand resulted in higher average grain yield over other maturity groups. The mean grain yield of hybrids of different maturity groups differed significantly under normal and waterlogged conditions. Late maturity hybrid PMH-3 was to be the most tolerant against excess soil moisture stress (31.8 and 34.9% yield reduction) and medium maturity HM-9 was highly susceptible (55.2 and 64.6% yield reduction) during both years. Under temporary waterlogging condition, leaf diffusive resistance (LDR) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) showed positive correlation with grain yield while transpiration rate (TR) had negative correlation. Leaf temperature showed positive correlation (r = 0.152 and 0.323) with PAR but negative with TR (r = –0.447 and –0.122). The findings indicated that late maturity maize hybrids followed by early maturity maize hybrids can be grown under excess soil moisture stress condition.