1Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi284 003, Uttar Pradesh
2ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi110 012
3ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, PAU Campus, Ludhiana141 004
Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi110 012
*Corresponding author's e-mail: ishwar.singh@icar.gov.in
**Present address: ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi284 003, Uttar Pradesh
Online published on 16 August, 2021.
Forty maize inbred lines were assessed at seedling, vegetative and flowering plant growth stages for nitrogen use efficiency under nitrogen sufficient and deficient soil conditions. Significant variations were observed in the morpho-physiological and agronomical traits. Inbred lines were classified into two major clusters based on the response of morphological and physiological traits to nitrogen limiting conditions. Cluster 1(C1) I included DMI 4, DMI 5, DMI 22, DMI 27 and DMI 56 inbred lines-derived from the drought or thermal tolerant parents HKI335 and LM17 with less reduction in growth-related parameters as compared to cluster CII inbred lines, which were derived from sensitive genotypes MGUD22 and HKI1015wg8. The enzymatic activities of nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were observed to be more critical for screening in the early growth stage. The identified inbred lines have the potential for developing maize hybrids with improved nitrogen use efficiency.
Maize, Inbred line, SPAD, Nitrogen Harvest Index, Anthesis-silking-interval
