TITLE:
Tolerance Traits and Dry Matter Partitioning in Five Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties Subjected to Drought Stress during the Vegetative Phase
AUTHORS:
Atalaèsso Bokobana, Kossi Etienne M. Akakpo, Tawelsi Mayaba, Kwassi Kporliawornou Ledi, Tchaou B. P. I. Bodjona, Koffi Tozo, Komi Odah
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Drought, Maize, Tolerance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.16 No.7,
July
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Maize (Zea mays L.) is particularly vulnerable to drought stress due to its high water requirements. The aim of this study is to assess the tolerance to drought stress induced during the vegetative phase in five maize varieties (Sammaz 52, TZPB, Ikenne Tg, TZEE and Amen) and to understand the dry matter partitioning involved. The results showed that flowering (male or female) is only slightly affected, delayed by two days in the Ikenne Tg vari-ety and by three days in the Amen variety, but not affected at all in the Sammaz 52, TZPB, and TZEE varieties. Under drought stress, all varieties exhibit a relatively small decrease in relative water content of between 2.5 and 15.5%. Osmoregulation remains more efficient in the Ikenne Tg variety, with a high foliar proline accumulation of around 300%. Oxidative stress is moderate overall, with foliar malondialdehyde accumulation approaching 45% in the Sammaz 52 and TZPB varieties. Calculation of the drought sus-ceptibility index (DSI) shows that the Ikenne Tg and TZEE varieties are tol-erant (DSI 1), and the Amen variety is intermediate (DSI = 1). The TZPB, Sammaz 52, Ikenne Tg and Amen varieties prioritise biomass allocation to root growth (soil exploration) and/or above-ground growth (stems and leaves) at the expense of grain formation (reproduction), whereas the TZEE variety priori-tises reproduction at the expense of vegetative growth. These results could provide promising avenues for selecting varieties more resilient to increas-ing drought stress.