The impacts on seedling root growth of water and salinity stress in maize (Zea mays indentata Sturt.)

Abstract

Effects of salinity and available water level at the seedling stage of dent corn variety were examined for some shoot and root characters. Two different salinity and four available soil water level had no effect on the emergence of corn. The highest values for root dry matter, leaf water loss, shoot fresh weight were obtained in 1.35 salinity water treatment. Generally, 2.7 salinity water treatment was decreased by all of the characters except for the number of leaves per plant and leaf fresh weight. 75% available water treatment caused in increasing the dry matter root and shoot, fresh weight for root and shoot, shoot and root length, number of leaves per plant and leaf fresh weight. The lowest values for all the characters were obtained by 25 % available water treatments.