A set of 32 maize hybrids were evaluated under excessive soil moisture (ESM) stress. The plants were subjected to waterlogging for 12 days at the flowering stage by maintaining 3–5 cm water level. Physiological and biochemical traits were examined to analyze plants’ response to waterlogging stress. The chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content declined due to ESM stress, and the decrease was relatively higher in the case of susceptible hybrids. The decrease in chlorophyll content had shown a significant impact on total carbohydrate content, but the tolerant hybrids thrive better under stress with a capacity to maintain higher carbohydrate concentration. Proline accumulation was enhanced in all hybrids in response to the above stress, but it was tremendously increased in tolerant hybrids to offer osmotic protection compared to the sensitive genotypes. Total chlorophyll, chlorophyll-a, carbohydrate, proline as well as an increase in proline content in response to stress, revealed a significant positive association with seed yield, while percentage decline in chlorophyll, decrease in carbohydrate and senescence percentage maintained the reverse trend. Further, the chlorophyll ‘a' followed by an increase in proline content can be considered as important parameters for assessing tolerance to ESM stress owing to their high positive direct effects on seed yield.

在过度土壤水分 (ESM) 胁迫下评估了一组 32 个玉米杂交种。在开花期，通过保持 3-5 cm 的水位对植物进行 12 天的涝渍处理。检查生理和生化性状以分析植物对涝渍胁迫的反应。由于ESM胁迫，叶绿素a、b和总叶绿素含量下降，而感病杂种的下降幅度相对较大。叶绿素含量的降低对总碳水化合物含量有显着影响，但耐受性杂种在压力下生长得更好，能够保持较高的碳水化合物浓度。响应上述胁迫，所有杂种中脯氨酸积累增强，但与敏感基因型相比，耐受性杂交种的渗透保护能力显着增加。总叶绿素、叶绿素-a、碳水化合物、脯氨酸以及响应胁迫的脯氨酸含量增加与种子产量呈显着正相关，而叶绿素百分比下降、碳水化合物下降和衰老百分比保持相反趋势。此外，叶绿素“a”随后脯氨酸含量增加可被视为评估对 ESM 胁迫耐受性的重要参数，因为它们对种子产量具有高度积极的直接影响。而叶绿素百分比下降，碳水化合物和衰老百分比下降则保持相反的趋势。此外，叶绿素“a”随后脯氨酸含量增加可被视为评估对 ESM 胁迫耐受性的重要参数，因为它们对种子产量具有高度积极的直接影响。而叶绿素百分比下降，碳水化合物和衰老百分比下降则保持相反的趋势。此外，叶绿素“a”随后脯氨酸含量增加可被视为评估对 ESM 胁迫耐受性的重要参数，因为它们对种子产量具有高度积极的直接影响。