Distinct Morpho-Physiological Responses of Maize to Salinity Stress

Abstract

Most plants demonstrate wide interactive and complex adaptive morphological, biochemical, and physiological responses when subjected to salinity stress. Salt stress negatively impacts agricultural yields more especially cultivated crops throughout the world. Of interest to this study is maize a salt- sensitive crop that is widely grown worldwide, and receiving most attention due to its significant attributes and ability to serve as a great model for stress response studies. We exposed QN701 maize cultivar, to simulated salinity stress and investigated its morphological and physiological responses. Salinity negatively induced various morphological responses such as the reduction in plant height, number of leaves, shoot and root (length and biomass), and leaf width; however, it significantly increased the leaf area. On the physiological aspect, salt stress decreased the number of stomata, stomatal density, and photosynthesis, while it increased the respiration rate. This study expanded our knowledge of the morphological and physiological responses of maize to salinity stress. Additionally, these findings may serve as a recommendation for salinity breeding programs in maize and related cereal crops.