Muhammad Nael Khattab ⁽¹⁾, Nizar Harba⁽²⁾ and Elena Saleh^(3)*

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen, University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng Elena Saleh . E-Mail:  anterfatemah@gmail.com )

        Received:26/05/2022               Accepted:2/12/2021

Abstract: 

 Drought is one of the main environmental factors determining the yield of maize crop in the Mediterranean region, which calls for determining the performance, evaluation and estimation of the drought tolerance of maize genotypes, which has become the most important goal for plant breeders. The study aimed to evaluate the most important selection indicators for drought tolerance: Drought Resistance Coefficient (DTI), Golden Mean (GM), Harmonic Average Production (HM), Mean Productivity (MP), Modified Drought Tolerance Coefficient 1 (MSTIK1), Relative Drought Coefficient (RDI), Drought sensitivity index (SDI), sensitivity to drought index (SSI), stress sensitivity index (SSPI), stress tolerance index (STI), drought tolerance index (TOL), yield coefficient (YI), yield stability index (YSI), to distinguish Drought-tolerant maize genotypes with high production capacity, and the determination of the drought tolerance index most closely related to tolerance. The study included 5 genotypes of yellow maize, the study was carried out under field conditions in Dahr Barakat area of ​​Jableh countryside in Lattakia governorate during the 2021 agricultural season. Water stress was applied at each stage of growth, and the performance of the genotypes was compared with the irrigated control, the design of the complete random sectors was used with a split plot system for once and with three replications, where the genotypes (G) were occupied by the secondary plots, while the main plots were occupied by irrigation treatments. The best evidence for selection indicators of drought tolerance that was positively and significantly correlated with seed yield under stress (Ys) and non-stress (Yp) conditions are (DTI), (GM), (HM), (MP), (MSTIK1), (RDI). (STI), (GMP). Therefore, we recommend that plant breeders rely on these indicators, which clearly showed their ability to distinguish between genotypes, and use the genotypes (Ghouta 1, Nour, and C188) as parents in breeding programs and genetic improvement for drought tolerance in maize plants.

Key words: Yellow Maize, Drought Indicators, Water Stress, Seed Yield.

Full paper in Arabic:  pdf