RADICAL SYSTEM AND FOLIAR WATER POTENTIAL IN SEASONAL CORN

Abstract

Three cultivars of corn (Zea mays L.)· derived from VS-201 and two derived from Zac-58, all of them selected fa¡-lOW\;ater requirements, plus the two original varieties, were tested under rainfed conditions in Fco. l. Madero, Dgo. México. The measured parameters were root dry weight, root branching (visually graded), leaf water potential and grain yield. Those cultivars derived from VS-201 showed higher values in the four parameters than their original population, the best one being the cycle-fourth composite of mass selection. However, the selected materials from Zac-58 showed no difference with their parental population, except in grain yield.