Response of maize cultivars to low temperature stress during germination and early seedling stages

This study was carried out to determine the response of nine different maize cultivars (PR31Y43, P0937, KWS Kefrancos, KWS Kolleseus, KWS 5581, LG30.500, DKC 7240, DKC 5685 and DKC 6050) to low temperatures during germination and seedling periods. First, germination and emergence tests of these cultivars were performed at different temperatures (10 °C, 18 °C and 25 °C), and then their viability rates were determined with cold damage test at -4 °C. In addition, correlation and regression analysis were performed to determine the relationships between germination, emergence and some characteristics examined on seedlings before cold damage and the survival rates determined after cold damage. According to the results; while low temperature adversely affected the germination and emergence rates, root and stem lengths, and fresh and dry weight in all cultivars, the mean germination time prolonged. While the highest germination and emergence rates were obtained in KWS Kolleseus and KWS 5581 cultivars, the lowest values were observed in PR31Y43 cultivars. Although the DKC 7240 variety had low emergence rates, shoot and root length, and fresh and dry seedling weight, it had the highest total number of surviving seedlings in the cold damage test. In conclusion; the response of maize cultivars to low temperature was different, and low temperature had a negative effect on germination, emergence and seedling characteristics. It was determined that cvs. DKC 7240 and DKC6050, which indicated lower values in terms of germination and emergence rates and slow seedling growth at low temperatures, had higher total surviving seedlings in cold damage test. In addition, it was concluded that root length at the germination stage, emergence rate at the emergence stage, and SPAD value at the seedling period were related to plant viability rates after cold damage, so they could be used to determine the cold tolerance of corn genotypes.