Photosynthetic properties of elite erect leaf maize inbred lines and their contribution to seed production improvement

Abstract

A hypothesis that elite erect leaf maize inbred lines are characterized by properties of an efficient photo-model and that as such are very desirable in increasing the number of plants per unit area (plant density) in the process of seed production has been confirmed in the present study. The properties of the observed elite erect leaf maize inbred lines were based on the effects and characteristics of thermal processes of delayed chlorophyll fluorescence occurring in their thylakoid membranes. The temperature dependence of the delayed chlorophyll fluorescence intensity, the Arrhenius plot for the determination of phase transitions (critical temperatures) and activation energy are the principal parameters of the thermal processes. Based on the obtained results on photosynthetic properties it was also possible to estimate the tolerance and adaptation of elite erect leaf maize inbred lines to high temperatures and drought.

Keywords

• maize inbred lines
• erect leaves
• maize seed
• photosynthetic model
• thermal and photosynthetic processes
• thylakoid membrane
• delayed chlorophyll fluorescence