Variations in growth and genetic properties of Zea mays L. germinants exposed to cold shock

Abstract

Significant growth impairment upon exposure to cold shock corresponding to the length of time of exposure was shown. The length of the prominent root significantly reduced upon exposure to a cold shock from 141.8 mm to as low as 91.4 mm in those plants exposed at 1.5 h. The length of the prominent leaf also significantly reduced from 100.6 mm in the control to between 62.6 and 85.5 mm in low-temperature-exposed plants (p < 0.05), notwithstanding the time of exposure. There were significant reductions in final germination percent in the low-temperature-exposed germinants (35.8–60.5%) when compared to the control (88.5%). The RAPD marker (OPA04) revealed variations in germinated maize seeds after treatment with different duration of low temperatures. The test plantlets treated for 0, 0.5, and 1.5 h have an unrecognizable complementary sequence to the primer OPA04, whereas the primer amplified regions of the genome of test plantlets treated for 3, 6, and 12 h. Primer OPA05 also presented diversity among maize seedlings stressed for various durations of cold shock.