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Abstract

In order to assess as to whether traits related to plant photosynthetic capacity such as chlorophyll fluorescence and net CO2 assimilation rate could be used as indicators for drought tolerance in maize, 5 synthetic and 2 hybrids were subjected to PEG-induced water stress for 3 weeks. Although the growth of all maize cultivars was significantly reduced by PEG-induced water stress, they differed significantly in producing shoot biomass under water stress conditions. However, cv. Sahiwal-2002 was higher in growth under water stress conditions. The photosynthetic capacity (A) of all maize cultivars was also reduced under water deficit conditions. Since, there was a positive correlation between biomass production and net CO2 assimilation rate so photosynthetic capacity could be used as a potential selection criterion for drought tolerance in maize. In contrast no such relationship of drought tolerance of the cultivars with photosystem-II efficiency measured as Fv/Fm. Thus, it did not prove to be a viable criterion for drought tolerance in maize.

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