title: Photosynthesis and growth response of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids exposed to cadmium stress.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a biologically non-essential heavy metal while the cultivation of Cd-tolerant varieties/hybrids (V) seems the most promising strategy for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils. For this, 24-day-old seedlings of seven maize hybrids, DKC 65-25, DKC 61-25, DKC 919, 23-T-16, 32-B-33, 31-P-41, and Syn hybrid, were grown in hydroponic conditions for 21 additional days in various Cd concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 μM). Effects of variety, Cd, and their interaction were highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) for studied plant agronomic and physiological traits except the V × Cd interaction for leaf chlorophyll content, root-shoot length, and root dry weight. The Cd accumulation in root and shoot increased gradually with increasing Cd treatments while copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) uptake was decreased in all hybrids. The reduction in root and shoot biomass and Cd uptake was lower in 32-B-33 and 23-T-16 compared to other hybrids. The highest accumulation of Cu, Zn, and Mn was observed in 32-B-33, DK C65-25, and 31-P-41, respectively. The differential uptake and accumulation of Cd by maize hybrids may be useful in selection and breeding for Cd-tolerant genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.|Department of Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-Ur-Rehman
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naeem
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rab
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shafaqat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murtaza
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Aamer
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maqsood
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hinnan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan. mrazi1532@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3513-2041
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizwan
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D018527:Hydroponics; D008345:Manganese; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots; D036226:Seedlings; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D003313:Zea mays; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D002734:Chlorophyll; D008345:Manganese; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Cadmium; Chlorophyll contents; Gas exchange parameters; Growth; Maize hybrids; Micronutrients