Evaluation of different strategies for induction of chilling tolerance in spring maize using moringa leaf extracts

Abstract

Spring maize is highly sensitive to low temperatures during the early development of seedlings and to high temperatures during its reproductive stage. Different strategies are being used to minimize the adverse effects of temperature extremes. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to enhance the performance of spring hybrid maize by seed priming (3% MLE) and transplanting 20 and 30-day-old seedlings. Seed priming with moringa leaf extract (MLE) significantly enhanced stand establishment in both direct sowing and in transplanting, as indicated by the higher emergence percentage, emergence index, and lower time taken to start of emergence and mean emergence time. Minimum days from sowing to tasseling and silking were found in MLE primed 20-day-old seedlings grown in a nursery. However, all the agronomic parameters increased considerably with MLE priming of 20-day-old seedlings. Thus, MLE priming reduced chilling damage by improving stand establishment, whereas transplanting 20-day-old seedlings further enhanced the agronomic traits, yield, and quality of maize. However, the performance of maize plants from 30-day-old transplanted seedling and direct sowing was substandard.