Response of Ten Corn Cultivars to Flooding

ABSTRACT EMERGENCE, growth and mineral uptake of five inbred and five hybrid corn cultivars when flooded for 0, 2, 4 or 6 days at the pregermination and the 4-5 leaf seedling growth stages was determined. Emergence following pregermination flooding was determined under laboratory and field conditions at cold and warm temperatures during flooding. Growth and mineral uptake were determined for seedlings growing in the field and flooded at warm temperatures. Emergence percentage decreased as flooding duration and temperature increased during flooding. Dry matter per plant was reduced as flooding duration increased. Hybrid cultivars were more susceptible to flooding than inbred cultivars at both growth stages. The concentration of N, P, Ca, Mg and Cu in the plant decreased while Fe, Al, and Na increased with increased flooding. Potassium concentration peaked at 2 days of flooding then decreased, while Mn and Zn showed a reversed trend