Characterizing Maize Genotypes for Salt Tolerance Using Morphological and Ionic Traits at Seedling Stage

Maize crop is the third most important cereal crop, mostly grown for food, feed and fodder purpose. In spite of fact susceptible to salt stress but exhibits a considerable genotypic variability tolerance. The present study was carried out determine which extent maize genotypes with contrasting morphological traits respond stress. Seven days old seedlings thirty were exposed NaCl EC less than 4 (control), equal 8 12 dS m -1 further 28 in temperature controlled greenhouse. imposition completed two increments every other day from date planting. At age 35 days, evaluated traits. exhibited variations each 10 measured ionic PCA employed identify suitable trait be used as selection criterion Based on results, dry shoot weight (DSW) classify into salt-tolerant-T, moderately tolerant-MT sensitive-S groups. Two (2) i.e. SB-9617 FH-949 had highest average percent (PDSW) values > 70% classified tolerant (T). fifteen (15) showed PDSW range 55-69.9 % (MT) by indicating sequence order tolerance YH-1898 MMRI-yellow S-2002 FH-988 FH-1292 HC-12 MS-2018 NCEV-1270-7 Pahari Pearl White FH-1114 NCEV-1270-3 Iqbal NCEV-1297 DK-6724. However, thirteen (13) total (30) attained <55% sensitive (S) following NCEV-1530-9 Composite FRI-22 Azam MS-2015 P-1543 Neelum Afgoi Malka-2016 MS-1501 HNG NCEV-1270-5 NCEV-7004. It also noticed that declared positively correlated (DSW), length (SL), stem diameter (SD), fresh (FSW), root (FRW), roots (DRW), (RL), leaf area per plant (LA), number leaves (NL) K + /Na ratio. positive Pearson correlation coefficients determined LA vs SD (r=0.900), DSW (r=0.899), SL (r=0.891), FSW (r=0.890) (r=0.887). Additionally, (T) group maintained higher ratios compared results clearly could viable option different groups suited best adapted genotype cultivation saline soils. Furthermore, this scientific information help scientists improve develop new cultivar.