Limited irrigation contribute to water saving capacity of different coloured corns in arid regions of Turkey according to growth attributes, photosynthetic properties, and bioactive compounds

Abstract

Several experiments have been performed to demonstrate the potential benefits of grain pigmentation in terms of water deficit tolerance on plant height (PH), leaf number (LN), leaf area (LA), tasseling, photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), chlorophyll content (CC), stomatal conductance (SC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total antioxidant activity (TAA), proline, and malondialdehyde (MDA) features of corn during 2019 and 2020 growing seasons in Konya/Turkey. The factors considered in the trial included irrigation [50% (I1), 75% (I2), and 100% (I3) of field capacity)], genotypes [Sakarya, RC (Red Corn), DKC 5783], and sampling times [tasseling (1st) and 20 days after tasseling (2nd)]. Results showed that Sakarya had higher values in LN, tasseling, and SC; in addition, had lower MDA, a stress indicator, in both years than others. RC had lower values in all properties than Sakarya and DKC 5783 during the 1st year, whereas it had the highest values at A, E, and WUE in 2020. Furthermore, DKC 5783 had the highest yield under I1 in both growing seasons and higher LA, CC, TAC, and TAA properties. The yield of I3 was 6.87% more than I2 in 2019 and 9.05% more than I2 in 2020, therefore, based on the results, though limiting 25% water in corn caused a tolerable yield loss and some physiological properties of DKC 5783 impacted its yield formation. According to the previous detections; limited irrigation significantly contribute to water saving capacity in dominantly arid agricultural areas, such as the Konya province of Turkey.