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. 2024 Jun 20;19(6):e0302272.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302272. eCollection 2024.

Genetic analysis of tolerance to combined drought and heat stress in tropical maize

Melkamu Elmyhun  1 , Ermias Abate  2 , Alemu Abate  1 , Adefris Teklewold  3 , Abebe Menkir  4
Affiliations

Genetic analysis of tolerance to combined drought and heat stress in tropical maize

Melkamu Elmyhun et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Simultaneous occurrences of heat and drought stresses have a detrimental effect on growth, development and yield of maize. Heat and drought is expected to worsen maize yield losses under climate change. Selecting CDHS tolerant maize hybrids creates great opportunity for sustainable maize improvement in the tropics. The objective of current investigation was to dissect the genetic basis of CDHS tolerance in tropical maize and to determine performance of single cross hybrids under CDHS. Ninety six single-cross hybrids resulted from crossing 12 tassel blast tolerant and 12 tassel blast susceptible lines along with two Striga resistant commercial hybrids, a heat tolerant and a heat susceptible check hybrids were evaluated under FIRR, MDRTS and CDHS using 25x4 alpha lattice design with two replications. The results showed significant genetic variation for FIRR, MDRTS and CDHS tolerance among maize hybrids. The majority of single crosses that showed improved grain yield over their respective standard checks under MDRTS also exhibited improved grain yield over the same checks under CHDS, indicating development of CHDS tolerance hybrids. Significant and positive genotypic and phenotypic correlation of grain yield under MDRTS and CDHS implicated common genetic mechanisms controlling yield under MDRTS and CDHS. Stress tolerance indices YI, GMP, MP, HM and STI were identified as best selecting indices under both stresses. GCA variances were larger than SCA variances in each testing environment for most studied traits indicating the impotence of additive gene action than non-additive gene action to control these traits. Majority of stress indices and SCA effects demonstrated that hybrids HB18, HB41, HB91 and HB95 were high yielder under MDRTS and CDHS. Hybrids HB41, HB91 and HB95 and their parents' scored minimum tassel blast. Parents 19 and 7 were well general combiner for grain yield and early maturity under MDRTS and CDHS indicting their valuable source of genes for hybridization. The current findings revealed that CDHS tolerance hybrids can reduce expected yield losses and maintain maize productivity in CDHS prone areas. Promising hybrids should be tested further under various drought and CHDS for commercialization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Phenotypic correlation among yield and yield components under CDHS with MDTS.
Where, GYH, ANTH, SILH, PHH, EHH, HCH, PASPH, EASP = BLUE of Yield, Date to 50% anthesis date, Date to 50% silking date, Plant height, Ear height, husk cover, Plant aspect and Ear aspect under CHDS respectively while GYD, ANTD, SILD, PHD, EHD and HCD = BLUE of Yield, Date to 50% anthesis date, Date to 50% silking date, Plant height, Ear height, husk cover under MDTS accordingly.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Phenotypic correlation among yield and yield components under CDHS with FIRR.
Where, GYF, ANTF, SILF, PHF and EHF = BLUE of Yield, Date to 50% anthesis date, Date to 50% silking date, Plant height, Ear height, husk cover under FIRR accordingly. GYH and GHF expressed positive, strong and significant genotypic correlation (r = 0.84***) with one another and PHH, PHF, EHH and EHF whereas negative, strong and significant genotypic correlation with ANTH, ANTF, SILF, HCH, PASPH and EASPH. Genetic correlations for yield components were from strong to moderate significant positive or negative to each other and yield at CDHS and FIRR.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Phenotypic correlation of GYH, GYD and GYF with stess toleance indices unde CDHS and MDRTS.
Where GYD = Grain yield under MDRTS, GYF = Grain yield under FIRR, GYH = Grain yield under CDHS, GMPH, MPH, HMH, SSIH, TOLH, STIH, YSIH and YIH are stress indices under CDHS, GMPD, MPD, HMD, SSID, TOLD, STID, YSID and YID are stress indices under MDRTS.
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