Calcareousness on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Hybrid Maize Genotypes-an In Vitro Study

This study is to investigate the effect of varying levels of calcareousness on seed germination and seedling growth of maize hybrids and to group as tolerant and sensitive genotypes for calcareousness. A 14-day experiment was conducted with seven maize hybrids (CO H (M) 6 (G1), CO H (M) 7 (G2), CO H (M) 8 (G3), CMH-11-586 (G4), CMH-12-686 (G5), CMH-15-005 (G6), and NK-6240 (G7)) by growing on nine different CaCO3 concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 100 mM CaCO3) on a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design (CRD). Seed germination, seedling growth, and vigor were recorded for categorizing them into tolerant and susceptible genotypes for CaCO3 stress. The detrimental effect of various concentrations of CaCO3 on seed germination, seedling growth, and establishment of all maize hybrids was observed, but the effect differs with genotypes. Almost all genotypes showed growth reduction at a higher concentration of CaCO3, but few genotypes had better seedling growth and establishment which shows their differential tolerance to calcareousness. Higher concentration of CaCO3 in the growing medium reduced the seed germination and seedling establishment of maize genotypes by inhibiting shoot and root growth. The genotypes CO H (M) 6 (G1) and CMH-12-686 (G5) were shown higher germination and good seedling growth with lesser biomass reduction even at higher concentrations of CaCO3 and hence grouped as efficient genotypes. But maize hybrids NK-6240(G7) and CMH-15-005(G6) were found most sensitive to CaCO3 stress, recording poor seed germination and seedling growth with significant susceptibility to CaCO3 concentration.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effect of varying levels of calcareousness on seed germination and seedling growth of maize hybrids, categorizing them into tolerant and susceptible genotypes. Different concentrations of CaCO3 were found to have a detrimental effect on all maize hybrids, with some genotypes showing higher tolerance to calcareousness and better seedling growth and establishment, while others were more sensitive to CaCO3 stress.