Effect of salt stress on photosynthetic responses in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Effects of salt stress on photosynthetic activities in two maize (Zea mays L., var. indendata, C.6127 and DK.623) cultivars were investigated. Plants were grown for 20 days in the controlled growth room. 0, - 0.1, - 0.3 and - 0.5 MPa salinized culture solutions were applied to plants. Salt treatments caused decreasing amounts of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b, and chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio in C.6127 cultivar. But, in DK.623 cultivar all amounts of pigments were increased with increasing salt treatment levels. Salinity caused a decline in photosystem II (PS II) activity in both two cultivars. PS II activity was found to be sensitive in C.6127 than DK.623 at the all salt treatment.