Drought is one of the most critical environmental factors constraining maize production. When it occurs at the flowering stage, serious yield losses are caused, and often, the damage is irretrievable. In this study, anthesis to silk interval (ASI), plant height (PH), and ear biomass at the silking date (EBM) of 279 inbred lines were studied under both water-stress (WS) and well-water (WW) field conditions, for three consecutive years. Averagely, ASI was extended by 25.96%, EBM was decreased by 17.54%, and the PH was reduced by 12.47% under drought stress. Genome-wide association studies were carried out using phenotypic values under WS, WW, and drought-tolerance index (WS-WW or WS/WW) and applying a mixed linear model that controls both population structure and relative kinship. In total, 71, 159, and 21 SNPs, located in 32, 59, and 12 genes, were significantly (P < 10−5) associated with ASI, EBM, and PH, respectively. Only a few overlapped candidate genes were found to be associated with the same drought-related traits under different environments, for example, ARABIDILLO 1, glycoprotein, Tic22-like, and zinc-finger family protein for ASI; 26S proteasome non-ATPase and pyridoxal phosphate transferase for EBM; 11-ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, uncharacterised, Leu-rich repeat protein kinase, and SF16 protein for PH. Furthermore, most candidate genes were revealed to be drought-responsive in an association panel. Meanwhile, the favourable alleles/key variations were identified with a haplotype analysis. These candidate genes and their key variations provide insight into the genetic basis of drought tolerance, especially for the female inflorescence, and will facilitate drought-tolerant maize breeding.

Climate change is emerging phenomena and causing frequent drought which lead to scaricity of water, which ultimately nagetively affecting wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) yield all around the world. The aim of this study was to explore the potential deought tolerant wheat genotypes for candidate genes exploration. This study was conducted during the year 2014-2015 at Plant Physiology Division, Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) Tandojam. The six wheat genotypes (cv. MT-1/13, MT-2/13, MT-3/13, MT-4/13 Chakwal-86 and Khirman) were investigated for their response at germination and seedling stage under different water stress treatments (0, -0.5, -0.75 and -1.0 MPa) in controlled conditions. The results of experiments with reference to genotypes revealed that genotype Chakwal-86 shows maximum seed germination (82.58 %), while the genotype Khirman shows maximum shoot length  (7.23 cm), root length  (15.1 cm), shoot fresh wt. (5.85 g 10-1shoots), root fresh wt.  (3.45 g 10-1roots), shoot dry wt. (1.33 g 10-1shoots), root dry wt. (0.69 g 10-1roots). Among the genotypes tested Khirman and MT-4/13 are the tolerant genotypes had the potential to perform better under drought conditions, whereas  MT-4/13 and Chakwal-86 were moderate tolerant under water stress conditions. Moreover, the genotypes i.e. MT-1/13 and MT-2/13 are the sensitive genotypes under drought environment. It is concluded from present in-vitro studies that osmotic stress significantly reduced the seed germination shoot/root length fresh and dry weight in all six wheat genotypes. The maximum reduction was found at higher osmotic stress induced by PEG-6000 (-1.0 MPa) significantly.

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