TITLE:
Analysis of Adaptive Response of Maize (Zea mays) Varieties from DR-Congo to Water Stress
AUTHORS:
Jean Pierre Kabongo Tshiabukole, Amand Mbuya Kankolongo, Gertrude Pongi Khonde, Antoine Mumba Djamba, Roger Kizungu Vumilia, Kabwe Nkongolo
KEYWORDS:
Maize (Zea mays L.), Drought Resistance, Water Stress, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Quality Protein Maize (QPM), DR-Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.8 No.9,
August
22,
2017
ABSTRACT: Maize
production in tropical Africa is often negatively affected by drought. The main
objectives of the present study were to 1) analyze the impact of water stress
on the agro-morphological performance of two varieties of Quality Protein Maize
(QPM) compared to two normal maize varieties and 2) assess their adaptive
response in contrasting water environments. Agro-morphological responses to
water deficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) were assessed in controlled experiments using
four maize varieties, two normal maize (Zm725 and Mus1) and two quality protein
maize (Mudishi1 and Mudishi3) varieties. They were subjected to three water
regimes (100%, 60%, 30% water retention capacity) at the beginning of the bloom
stage, using a Fischer block design with four replications. Significant differences
(p