Root and Shoot Responses of Summer Maize to Waterlogging at Different Stages

Abstract

The specially designed soil columns experiment was conducted to determine effects of waterlogging for 6 d at the third leaf stage (V3), the sixth leaf stage (V6), and the 10th day after the tasseling stage (10VT) on root growth and development of summer maize (Zea mays L.). Results showed that waterlogging significantly decreased root length, root length density, and number of root tips compared to the control (CK). Waterlogging significantly reduced the total absorption area and active absorption area with the most significant reduction in treatment at V3. The active absorption area of roots at V6, tasseling (VT), milking (R3), and physiological maturity (R6) stages decreased by 68, 67, 57, and 67%, respectively, due to waterlogging at V3. In addition, waterlogged plants generally had much lower root bleeding rates, which were significantly decreased by 46, 28, and 13% from the control by the treatment at V3, V6, and 10VT stages, respectively. The negative effects of waterlogging on root growth and development led to abnormal development of the aboveground biomass, resulting in significant reductions in dry matter, leaf area, net photosynthetic rate, and yield. Compared with grain yield of CK, yields under the treatments at V3, V6, and 10VT stages were reduced by 26, 21, and 13%, respectively. Responses of summer maize root growth and grain yield to waterlogging depended on the growth stage. Summer maize was most susceptible to waterlogging damage at V3 stage, followed by V6 and 10VT stages.Core Ideas We investigated summer maize root growth in response to waterlogging at different stages. We realized summer maize root was most susceptible to damage when waterlogging occurred at V3, followed by V6 and 10VT. Waterlogging reduced grain yield of summer maize, for the delay of root growth.

Screening Corn Hybrids for Soil Waterlogging Tolerance at an Early Growth Stage

“…Oxygen deficiency and presence of phytotoxins reduce root growth and formation and promote root decay. Waterlogging for six days significantly decreased root length, root length density, and the number of root tips compared to those of the control in corn plants at the V3, V6, and 10 days after VT growth stages [10]. Waterlogging conditions can decrease root conductance for water and nutrient uptake, causing nutrient deficiency and resulting in poor plant growth [11,12].…”

Impacts and management strategies for crop production in waterlogged or flooded soils: A review

“…Due to the waterlogged conditions, roots are not able to exploit a large soil volume and tend to grow near the soil surface (Sairam, Kumutha, Ezhilmathi, Deshmukh, & Srivastava, 2008). Ren, Zhang, Dong, Liu, and Zhao (2016) reported that root length, root length density, and the number of root tips in corn decreased with 6 d of waterlogging at the V3 (corn plant with three leaves), V6, and 10 d after VT (tasseling) growth stages when compared to the nonwaterlogged control. Flooding stress on 2‐d‐old soybean plants significantly suppressed fresh root weight, whereas glycolysis, fermentation, stress, and cell wall‐related protein synthesis were increased (Oh & Komatsu, 2015).…”

“…Singh and Ghildyal (1980) reported that soil flooding of corn at V6 was more harmful than at the VT growth stage. Corn in later vegetative or reproductive growth stages (V7, VT, R1) were less susceptible to soil waterlogging damage compared to early growth stages (V2) when the growing point was still below or close to the soil surface (Ren et al., 2014; Ren et al., 2016; Ritter & Beer, 1969; Zaidi, Rafique, Rai, Singh, & Srinivasan, 2004). Ren et al.…”

“…Ren et al. (2016) found that corn grain yields decreased 26, 21, and 13% due to a 6‐d waterlogging period at V3, V6, and 10 d after the VT stage, respectively. This indicated that the V3 stage was more susceptible to waterlogging damage compared to V6 and VT stages.…”

Spraying exogenous synthetic cytokinin 6‐benzyladenine following the waterlogging improves grain growth of waterlogged maize in the field

“…Waterlogging often occurs where rainfall is substantial, soil drainage is poor and the high-water level fluctuates strongly. In the Huang-huai-hai Plain, most rainfall occurs during growing season of summer maize, and yield and growth of summer maize are significantly affected by excessive rainfall and/ or flooding (Ren, Zhang, Dong, Liu, & Zhao, 2016a;Ren et al, 2014).…”