Physiological and Ionic Expressions of Different Hybrids of Maize (Zea Mays L.) under Different Salinity Levels

A pot culture experiment was conducted to estimate the behavior of maize under saline soil conditions in the wire house of Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. There were three treatments with different levels of salinity and equal amount of Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3) in all pots including control was applied to three genotypes of Hybrid Maize i.e. 32F10 (Poineer), King Cross (Auriga), and NK-8441 (Syngenta), in five replications. Treatments were applied according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Plant and soil samples were collected for determination of different physiological and ionic expressions. Genotype NK-8441 comparatively performed better at all salinity levels. All studied physiological parameters viz. relative water contents, membrane stability index, total chlorophyll contents, CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic rate showed a declining trend at higher salinity level, remarkably. However a very small decline was observed in NK-8441 compared with other genotypes. Due to salinity stress plant uptake of K, NO3, and N from soil was reduced and Na uptake was increased significantly as the salinity level was increased. NK-8441 showed its worth by up taking more K, NO3 and N and discouraging Na uptake.