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Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to discriminate maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars for drought tolerance using gas exchange characteristics and proline contents as physiological markers. Seven maize cultivars viz., Sahiwal-2002, Sadaf, EV-5098, Pak-Afgoyee, Agaiti-2002, Agaiti-85 and EV-1098 were grown under well watered or water deficit condition (60% of field capacity). Imposition of water deficit condition decreased the shoot and root fresh and dry weights, relative water content, photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, while increased root/shoot ratio, chlorophyll a, b and chlorophyll a/b ratio, proline content and shoot N and K in all maize cultivars. Effect of drought stress was non-significant on shoot or root P and shoot N. Of all maize cultivars, cv. Agaiti-85 was found to be relatively better in growth, proline accumulation and gas exchange characteristics under drought stress as compared to the other cultivars.

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