DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES STRATEGIE BY Zea mays L. AND Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR. GENOTYPES UNDER DROUGHT STRESS CONDITION

Three genotypes of Pennisetum glaucum (IP14599, IP14787and LRNO3) and Zea mays (tolerant DTSYN11, susceptible LRNO1 and LRIO1) were screened under 4, 8 and 12 days of drought stress using approaches to detect trait signals for drought tolerance. Specific strategies were confirmed against drought among all genotypes of both species. Genotypes of P. glaucum showed high biomass production, increased tolerance index, and high plant nutrient content under drought treatment. On the other hand, genotype DTSYN11 of Z. mays performed better than the LRNO1 and LRIO1 regarding the evaluated traits. Studies related to protein content, proline, MDA concentration and antioxidants (CAT, APX) accumulation in both the species highlighted that pearl millet genotypes are better performers than maize under drought stress. The lesser concentration of MDA and high accumulation of antioxidant enzymes with increasing stress possibly provided some extent of osmotic protection and antioxidant defence modulation to these superior genotypes, thus causing safeguard to the Pearl millet. This work explains the superiority of pearl millet regarding the drought defence mechanism on the contrary to the maize genotypes. Hence, pearl millet’s has superior traits are of great relevance in breeding improvement, and can serve as a precious reserve to explicate molecular strategies in manipulating drought tolerance capacity in other susceptible crops.