Genotypic differences in potassium response and proline accumulation in maize during wilting

摘要

When leaf discs of six experimental hybrids of maize (Zea maysL.) grown with high as well as low levels of potassium were treated with 5 mMKCl for 2 hr in light before exposure to long-term (43 hr) mild wilting conditions, a stimulating effect of potassium treatment (“potassium effect”) on water-stress-induced proline accumulation was observed. This effect was greater in the discs grown at a high level of potassium. Marked differences in proline accumulation due to wilting were observed in the different genotypes. Genotypic differences in the‘potassium effect’were also evident. Use of potassium uptake as an index for screening cultivars for drought tolerance may be p