Selection for drought tolerance in some temperate and subtropical maize populations [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Nine temperate and subtropical maize populations had undergone one cycle of S1- family selection for drought tolerance. The original (C0) and improved (C1) populations were evaluated under normal (flooding) and stress irrigation conditions at Sids and Nubaria Agric. Res. Stations in 2000. Results showed that the behavior of C0 and C1 populations under the two irrigation levels differed from one population to another, moreover, response of different traits to selection for drought tolerance varied considerably among populations and between the two irrigation levels. Reduction in yield under drought stress was less for C1 (29.6%) of Giza 2 C6, Giza 2 C8, DTP.l C7 (Y), and DTP.2 C5 (W) populations when compared with yield reduction of C0 (48.5%) of these populations, which reflects the success of selection to improve performance of the four populations under drought stress conditions. Average gain/cycle for grain yield under drought stress was 10%. Improved performance under drought stress of the four populations was mainly due to an improvement in number of ears/plant and/or 100-kernels weight. For most of the studied populations, selection succeeded to reduce the silk-tassel interval under drought stress by 1-3.5 days. It was concluded that Giza 2 C8 is the best population for the development of drought tolerant inbred lines.

Summary in Arabic.

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